YSF’s Board of Directors recently voted to sign an agreement with Proctor Construction, Inc. of Vero Beach to build the Pat Harris Community Sailing Center (PHCSC). Groundbreaking is planned for May 2025.
Chairman Bill Krueger said: “This is a significant step toward realizing our dream to build a sailing center that will serve the children of Vero Beach and Indian River County for generations to come. We thank hundreds of donors who have generously contributed to helping us realize our dream. Procter has provided pro bono preconstruction services over the last 18 months. We are excited to formally partner with a local team with a proven track record of construction excellence and community involvement.”
The PHCSC will be built on a 3-acre site south of the 17th Street Bridge, under a long-term lease from the City of Vero Beach as part of the 3-Corners Development. YSF has occupied the site since 2012 and has made improvements, including 250 feet of floating dock, beach launch ramps, and boat storage tie-downs in three bays under the bridge. With 500 feet of Lagoon waterfront, the beautiful waterfront setting will be named the Charlie and Chris Pope Marine Recreational Park in honor of YSF’s founders. Vero Beach Mayor John Cotugno remarked: “YSF’s Pat Harris Community Sailing Center is an excellent example of a public/private partnership that is a big win for the children of Vero Beach. The City provides the land while YSF builds and operates a sailing center to serve children from across the socioeconomic spectrum.”
The 10,000-square-foot sailing center will be built to the highest standards. Project Manager, Stu Keiller remarked: “We are constructing a 100-year building that will stand up to hurricanes; both those spawned by nature and those created when 150 kids come streaming in twice a week all pumped up about sailing. Our sailing roster of 300 mirrors the community’s demographics with about half from underserved homes. We have introduced sailing to 40 homeless children and currently serve about 35 special needs sailors.” The Center will feature a large multipurpose meeting room on the second floor with views of the Indian River Lagoon. The ground floor will have an instructional center and repair shops to maintain YSF’s fleet of 80 sail and 10 safety boats.
See article in 32963: (https://veronews.com/2025/01/02/first-element-of-future-three-corners-to-set-sail-soon/+)
Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit devoted to eliminating cultural and financial barriers to sailing. Numerous youth programs are offered throughout the year, many of them free to participants.
