The Palisades-Malibu YMCA was destroyed by January’s wildfires, and elected officials and community members broke ground Thursday on a new facility expected to once again serve as a vital center for youth development.
During a news conference, Victor Dominguez, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, also announced the launch of a $25 million capital campaign to help rebuild the Palisades-Malibu YMCA. The organization plans to build an expanded dual campus on Via de la Paz and Simon Meadow.
The Via de la Paz site will restore the facility that was destroyed earlier this year, while the Simon Meadow facility is expected to allow the YMCA to expand programming and serve more families with permanent indoor-outdoor spaces.
To kick off the campaign, L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who represents Pacific Palisades and Malibu, made a commitment of $10 million for the project. Additionally, Bob Lowe, CEO of Lowe Enterprises, a real estate investment firm based in Los Angeles, is expected to provide a “sizeable” donation to the campaign, according to YMCA officials.
The combined campuses will be renamed the Lowe Family YMCA. The Lowes are longtime members of the Y.
“Words cannot describe our gratitude to Supervisor Horvath and the Lowe family for spearheading this gift to the community,” Dominguez said in a statement. “As the center for community well-being with 28 centers across the L.A. region, we have always been a place where everyone belongs. Now we can ensure that the Palisades community members will once again be able to gather at their local Y, where everyone is invited to grow, give and get involved.”
Lowe, who is a board member of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, said the facility in Palisades-Malibu has been an important part of his family going back three generations.
“We are so pleased that the Lowe family can help ensure the Y will be able to serve the Palisades families now and for generations in the future,” Lowe said in a statement.
Horvath shared that she was proud to invest in the rebuilding efforts as well.
“Today’s launch is more than just a construction milestone — it’s a symbol of recovery, resilience and hope,” Horvath said in a statement. “This is a vital step toward healing — and a powerful reminder that we will be back in community, together, soon.”
Mayor Karen Bass participated in Thursday’s event. She emphasized that rebuilding Palisades includes restoring community spaces and local institutions.
“With today’s announcements, we’re taking another step forward to rebuilding the Palisades more resiliently than before, from residential properties to key community spaces like the Pali Y, so they can continue serving the community for generations to come,” Bass said in a statement.
According to YMCA, the Via de la Paz campus is expected to receive partial support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance program. The Simon Meadow expansion will be entirely funded by donations.
“This marks the beginning of a new chapter for the only community center in the Palisades,” Jim Kirtley, executive director of Palisades-Malibu YMCA, said in a statement.