Frequently Asked Questions

Won't the traffic and parking around Linden Street be even worse?
Actually no, it will improve. SCC enlisted the services of Stephen G. Pernaw, a transportation engineer and planner, to conduct a traffic and parking assessment of the future uses of the (old) high school and the proposed community center. Because the high school students and staff will shift to the new high school (over 1800 people), the peak hour traffic demand will be reduced 40% from current levels. There will be a consistent level of traffic rather than the sharp "spikes" in demand that occur from the existing school. With less hourly traffic demand and shorter parking durations, the proposed uses of the site will result in reduced parking demand. The need for on-street parking in the adjacent neighborhoods will be eliminated. In the summertime, the traffic will be further reduced when the academic programs proposed for the old high school are not in session.
Someone told me over 55,000 people will come to the community center. Is this true?
Goodness no! We say that the community center serves over 55,000 residents in the region, but they don't all show up! Many of the agencies provide programs and services off site and even by phone. The YMCA is planning for about 1,000 members who come at different times during the day, and different days during the week--they never come all at once! The traffic and parking assessment we received was based on the number of users (staff or visitors) coming in and out of the community center every few hours, which again is far less than the current use as a high school.
How will the demolition and abatement of hazardous waste in the old junior high building impact the wetlands and Little River area?
It won't have any impact on the wetlands, river or the surrounding neighborhoods. Asbestos material is removed with very strict regulations through the State of NH and the federal government. Emissions are not permitted of any sort. Any waste materials have to be removed by an approved plan. No matter what happens with the Annex, whether it is sold to a developer or converted to any other use, this abatement will still have to happen. In addition there is an opportunity to secure funding and support to clean up and restore the ecosystems of the Little River and surrounding wetlands in partnership with local conservation groups.
What are the benefits of having a YMCA located in our community?
Aside from having a facility dedicated to fitness, recreation and wellness, the YMCA will:
  • Offer scholarships to those unable to afford the membership fee.
  • Provide programs that focus on defined needs within the community. An example of this is obesity prevention in youth.
  • Create family programming.
  • Provide free swim lessons for 3rd or 4th graders from the community through the school district.
  • Allow use of the gym for the local recreation department and the community.
  • Have a walking track where seniors and other citizens can maintain their fitness when the weather is inclement.
  • Create an opportunity for "After Prom" parties and other events that provide for a safe haven for the youth in our community.
  • Be a safe place for all citizens.
  • Share space for groups in the community.
  • Be a meeting place for everyone.
How will the agencies at this new community center give back to the community?
As part of the planning process, SCC is working with all of its potential collaborative partners in the community as well as the agencies that will be tenants. Each nonprofit has its own unique programs that provide benefits to the community, whether it is literacy and job training for adults or the scholarships provided to children whose families cannot afford full tuition. The YMCA is a new entity, so programs are not yet established--but it has developed some ways it will make its mark in our community. You can read about them here.
I've never been to a YMCA, what is it?
Our volunteers have been working for many years to develop a community center and YMCA facility. Southern District/Camp Lincoln YMCA in Kingston, NH is committed to developing a new Y to serve this region. You can read more (3.3mb) about what Y's are.
Isn’t the YMCA a Christian organization? Do they really welcome people of other faiths?
The YMCA was founded in London in 1844 by George Williams as a safe haven for young men working in the early factories of the industrial revolution to gather together and read the bible. It was based on the bible verse in John “…that we all may be one.” Many of our major schools, universities, and hospitals were originally founded by Christian movements, but today they clearly welcome people of all faiths. Even from its earliest days, the Y has been an inclusive organization, not just for men, not just for Christians. Its core values are to “build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.” Many non-Christians send their children to YMCA camps.

The YMCA of Jerusalem, founded in 1878, has always been a place where Christians, Muslims, and Jews can meet together; it was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to unite the country. The Jewish CEO of the Metropolitan Los Angeles YMCA, Larry Rosen, has stated: It [the Y] is not spiritually neutral, neither is it spiritually doctrinaire. There’s nothing about it that is alien to the Jewish experience.”

The Squamscott Community Commons and YMCA are both independent not-for-profit organizations incorporated with the State of New Hampshire and registered with the IRS as 501(c)(3) organizations. Each organization has in its by-laws a statement of non discrimination. According to the SCC by-laws, all tenants, including the YMCA, “…shall be non denominational and shall maintain an environment free from harassment, bullying, and discrimination. This includes, but is not limited to, harassment, bullying, and discrimination based on an individual's real or perceived race, color, sex, religion,creed, political belief, age, national origin, linguistic and language differences, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, socioeconomic status, height, weight, physical characteristics, marital status, parental status, or disability.”
Does Exeter need another indoor pool?
The Town of Exeter currently has one outdoor pool on Hampton Road that is accessible to the public. The Exeter Parks & Recreation Department is eager to have access to an indoor pool that can help train new lifeguards and water safety instructors year round. Phillips Exeter Academy generously allows school and private swim teams to use its indoor pool, but with the school's own athletic needs there is little time left for use by the general public.The indoor pools at Synergy are heavily scheduled for health and fitness classes for club members and are unavailable for public access; fee-based swimming lessons are offered to nonmember families.
Why “Squamscott”?
In searching for a community-based name that encompassed not just Exeter, but the region—we chose Squamscott. It doesn’t easily roll of the tongue, but it is a wonderful echo of our region’s rich and ancient past, where people have lived in this very place for at least 10,000 years. The Native American tribes of New Hampshire were most likely from the Abenaki nation, but independent of the Maine-based tribes.

The name “Abenaki” and its derivatives originated from a Montagnais (Algonquin) word meaning "people of the dawn" or "easterners." In the eastern part of New Hampshire were the Pequaquaukes (or Pequakets), the Ossipees, the Minnecometts, the Piscataquas and the Squamscotts (Msquamskek).

The Squamscott River begins at the Great Falls in the heart of downtown Exeter, where the fresh stream-fed waters of the Exeter River meet the tidal saltwater coming in from the Piscataqua River basin and Great Bay. 'Squamscott' (properly pronounced 'swamscott'-but not many do...) gets its name from the Squamscott Indians who called it Msquam-s-kook (or Msquamskek) translated as 'at the salmon place' or 'big water place.' Plentiful game, the marshes and lush river-fed vegetation, and an abundance of fish supported the northeast Native American Indians who were present in the region for thousands of years until English settlers displaced them in the early 1600s.
Where can I find more information on multi-tenant nonprofit community centers?
There are over 200 of them nationally, and many belong to an association called the Non Profit Centers Network . Diane Kaplan Vinokur at the University of Michigan has done a lot of work with her "Under One Roof" study. Jay Connor specializes in collaborative community systems, and you can read more about his expertise.