YMCA Holds Ribbon Cutting Event Celebrating Pool Restoration By Jennifer Bailey Staff Writer   Covington, VA (Sept. 29, 2026)— The Alleghany Highlands YMCA, located at 101 YMCA Way in Covington, held a special ribbon cutting event today at 4:30 p.m. in celebration of their newly restored swimming pool. As previously reported by the Alleghany Journal, the YMCA's pool underwent many significant repairs. Thomas Smals, Operations Director at the YMCA, shared with the Journal (in a previous interview),"Some of the repairs that we did, we actually had to have the whole floor resurfaced." Smals also discussed the many leaks which required reparation, as well as how the staff had to go down into the pool on a daily basis to scrub it with a large brush. An exhausting task, we imagine. Bobbie Wagner, CEO of the Alleghany Highlands YMCA, shared in that same interview how overwhelmed she had been by the generosity and support the YMCA had received from the Alleghany Foundation. The Alleghany Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization which provides financial support to many local nonprofits and government entities in the Alleghany Highlands in their daily goal of creating a better quality of life for residents. Today's ribbon cutting event celebrated the end of a very long journey in restoring the 20-year-old pool. It was attended by members, local government, board members for the YMCA, and many of the Y's staff. Speaking at the event were Josh Taylor, Executive Director of the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism; Jon Fitzgerald, 2026 Past President of the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism; David Goff, Councilman for the City of Covington; Jeff Irvine, Clifton Forge Mayor; Ken McFayden, Alleghany County Administrator; Greg Madsen, Board of Directors for Alleghany Highlands Economic Development; Smals; Shari Peterson, Dolphins Swim Team Instructor and Swim Lesson Instructor at the YMCA; Kathy Wilson, Dolphins Swim Team Instructor at the YMCA; Wagner; and Kelly Dean Madsen, Board President at the Alleghany Foundation.

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