The History of the DACC

Danville’s first community center was a YMCA on Ferry Street, built through the generosity of Thomas Beaver and with improvements 35 years later with funding from Abigail Geisinger. This YMCA was the social center for Danville for a century. While it faced financial difficulties over the years, area businesses and community members rallied to keep the community center alive. 

Eventually the needs of the community outpaced the physical space of the YMCA. By the late 1970s the community faced a difficult decision: upgrade the existing facilities or build a new center. A group of dedicated community members recommended the closure of the Ferry Street YMCA and envisioned a new and contemporary building with a heated competition-sized swimming pool, a gymnasium, and state-of-the-art exercise equipment. 

In the early 1980s, the Danville Area School District donated two acres of land where the DACC currently sits. The DACC’s visionaries launched a capital campaign to secure 2 million dollars to build the facility.

On December 14, 1986, the Danville Area Community Center was dedicated. 

In 1988 an expansion that included two racquetball courts was added to the building. 

In 2006 the DACC had a major pool renovation thanks to a one million dollar legacy gift. Additionally, the DACC installed an elevator to improve accessibility for all community members, renovated the gymnasium, and added two family/accessible bathrooms.