By Brandon House, REALTOR®
On Monday, Nov. 16, the City of Edmond, the Metropolitan Library System and the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City will cut the ribbon on one building at 4701 E. 15th St. It holds the new East Edmond Library and the Kupiec East Edmond YMCA. In its October issue, Edmond Outlook calls it "Edmond's second library." Metro Library still lists the Edmond Library at 10 S. Boulevard with its regular weekly hours, and the YMCA still lists the Mitch Park YMCA at 2901 Marilyn Williams Drive with its usual staffed hours.
So the east side gets its own copy of the two busiest public spots in town. The copy is also built differently, around quick stops and odd hours.
Two Buildings Ran Out of Room
The City of Edmond's capital projects tracker is blunt about why this exists. The downtown Edmond Library is the busiest branch in the state. The Mitch Park YMCA is the busiest of the 14 YMCA branches in the greater Oklahoma City area. The city picked land along 15th Street just east of I-35, formerly owned by Henderson Hills Baptist Church, because it sits near the geographic center of Edmond while the population keeps growing east of the interstate.
The money follows the same plan. As of the July 29, 2026 tracker update:
Piece of the project | Amount |
|---|---|
Land | $3,850,000 |
Design | $3,120,000 |
Construction budget | $31,640,000 |
City share of construction | $30,000,000 |
YMCA share of construction | $1,500,000 |
Library share of construction | $140,000 |
Under the lease, the YMCA pays the city back for half the cost of building its side, and the city expects about $12 million to come back to it over the life of the agreement. The city pays for the land, the full design up front and most of the construction. The tracker points to the Mitch Park YMCA and Edmond Center Court as proof that pooling resources pays off for the community.
The opening also came later than first planned. A September 2024 City of Edmond agenda packet said construction had started that August, would take 18 months, and would end with an opening in early 2026. By late July 2026, the city tracker had moved that to November, and said the contractor was still on pace for that month.
The Library Side Is Built for Errands
Downtown, getting a book on hold means parking near Boulevard and walking in. The East Edmond Library's feature list starts with ways to skip that step. Metro Library lists drive-through pickup and returns, plus a holds locker in the lobby. The rest of the list covers print and digital collections, public computers and internet, programs for all ages, creative learning, and multipurpose meeting spaces.
The architect, GH2, describes the library as full service, with a makerspace and a large multipurpose meeting room. That makerspace comes from the architect's description of the project, so how it's run and how you book it will depend on what Metro Library announces later.
Metro Library hasn't posted hours for the East Edmond branch yet. It is also hiring for guest services, circulation and programming. If you're planning a first visit, check the branch page in mid-November rather than assuming it keeps the same hours as downtown.
The Y Side Runs Around the Clock
The library side is about quick stops, and the YMCA side is about hours. Edmond Outlook lists features the Edmond YMCA describes as new: 24/7 access, a dry sauna, two group exercise studios, a universal and family locker room, a playground, and a dedicated youth space. These sit alongside a gym, pool and fitness center. The YMCA's branch page adds an indoor track, cycle classes, EGYM equipment, pickleball, towel service and child care.
Members can get in at any hour, but staff and Child Watch keep shorter schedules. Here's what the branch has posted:
Day | Staffed hours | Child Watch |
|---|---|---|
Monday to Thursday | 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. | 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. |
Friday | 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. | 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. |
Saturday | 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 8 a.m. to noon |
Sunday | 1 to 6 p.m. | 1 to 5 p.m. |
A weeknight workout at 10 p.m. works, but childcare during that workout doesn't. Saturday is the shortest staffed day after Sunday.
GH2's project description goes further than the YMCA's own list. It mentions separate recreational and lap pools, a splash pad, outdoor programming areas and a public plaza. Those come from the architect's plans, and the YMCA hasn't listed them as amenities yet, so plan around the YMCA's list until it does.
Joining Before the Doors Open
Membership presales opened Tuesday, Sept. 1. As of October 2026, the branch's purchase page lists these rates:
- Adult membership: $48 a month plus a one-time $70 joining fee
- Household membership: $78 a month plus a one-time $105 joining fee
The YMCA's general membership options page says a household plan covers up to two adults and the children in the household. Anyone who joins before opening day can use the Rankin or Mitch Park YMCAs in the meantime. That means a presale membership starts working right away, at the busy branch this new building was meant to take pressure off. Rates are live listings, so confirm the price on the page when you sign up.
Opening Morning
The Edmond Chamber's event listing has the details:
- When: Monday, Nov. 16, 9 to 9:30 a.m.
- What: A ribbon cutting, grand opening and facility walkthrough for the Kupiec East Edmond YMCA and the Metro Library East Edmond branch
- Where to turn in: The listing asks guests to enter off 15th Street.
That 15th Street entrance is a shared one. Henderson Hills Baptist Church lets the facility use its entrance off 15th Street and one of its existing parking lots. No new traffic signal or turn lane has been announced for the site, so you'll be using a driveway and parking area that already carry church traffic.
For questions before then, the YMCA points people to ymcaokc.org/KEEY, [email protected], or (405) 348-9622.
Mitch Park Keeps Its Winter Season
The new building doesn't pull Edmond's winter traditions east. Mitch Park, at 1501 W. Covell Road, starts its usual season the week before the ribbon cutting. The Edmond Ice Rink returns Nov. 7 for its 16th season and runs through Jan. 31, 2027. General admission is $15, or $13 with a military ID, and skate rental is included. Admission without rentals is $10. Over Thanksgiving break, Nov. 22 to 28, the rink is open noon to 10 p.m. daily.
Four days after the 15th Street opening, Edmond Electric's free Luminance light walk opens at Mitch Park on Nov. 20. It runs nightly from 5 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 1, 2027.
If you're weighing which side of the interstate puts your days closer to the places you actually use, from the library holds locker to the Y's 24/7 door, we're happy to talk it through without any pressure. Reach out to The House Collective Group and Let's Connect.
