Early in the 1950s the General Director of the YMCA, Ray Larsen, was seeking land to establish a day camp for children from Pawtucket and Central Falls. He came upon an old dairy farm up for sale in Lincoln and not having the $55,000 needed to purchase the land he sought out a local philanthropist to help. The idea of a YMCA camp in Lincoln was controversial where strong feelings existed that expressed the idea that the YMCA should keep its programs in Pawtucket.
A local businessman, Norman MacColl, came forward and offered to give the YMCA the $55,000 needed to purchase the property. Henry Blais, a local attorney, was the President of the YMCA board at the time and he presided over a contentious meeting to approve the purchase and accept the gift. The vote was tied and Henry cast the deciding vote to purchase the land.
So began the story of MacColl Field YMCA. Soon after the purchase the YMCA built a large pool for a family swim club and to serve as resource for the day camp program. Route 146 was being built at the time so the YMCA permitted the State to dump excess soil on the property and create two new ball fields for the camp. The original dairy barn was saved and converted to a program center and still functions today as an early learning center.
MacColl Field had gone as a “non-facility” YMCA for over 25 years before it expanded its program base to include community sports programs. In the early 1980s MacColl again expanded into the communities of Lincoln, Cumberland, Smithfield and N. Providence and establish childcare for working parents and swimming lessons at the nearby high school and community college.
MacColl Field’s primary focus has been with children and families in childcare, camping and summer recreation. Our strategic planning process identified that MacColl needed to meet the needs of families, teens and the elderly and expand our current services to include a year round facility for fitness, recreation and education.
