Greenwich families with toddlers and preschoolers have a new option to consider this fall: freshly built classrooms at the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Preschool Center, part of a $20 million renovation at YWCA Greenwich's East Putnam Avenue campus.

The organization announced Aug. 20 that it is enrolling children ages 15 months to 5 years for the 2026–27 school year. The renovated preschool spaces are scheduled to open this fall as part of the Building for Our Future capital campaign, which adds more than 15,000 square feet to the building at 259 East Putnam Ave. and consolidates all preschool classrooms onto a single floor.

The project broke ground Sept. 19, 2025, with Gov. Ned Lamont and First Selectman Fred Camillo in attendance, according to Greenwich Free Press. President and CEO Mary Lee Kiernan called the renovation "transformational" at that ceremony. The campaign includes a $750,000 state bond award alongside philanthropic contributions.

Progress has been steady. Construction updates posted on the YWCA Greenwich website show steel was nearly complete by early March 2026, wall framing wrapped by late March, and electrical and plumbing work began in April.

The Cohen Preschool Center is licensed by Connecticut's Office of Early Childhood and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. A Living Greenwich guide lists it as one of only four NAEYC-accredited preschools in town.

The curriculum includes Spanish, music, yoga, gymnastics and swimming alongside STEAM activities, art, outdoor play and collaborative learning. The program serves a diverse and international student body and offers flexible scheduling.

Geri Smiles, YWCA Greenwich's director of early childhood education, said the program focuses on preparing children academically and socially in a supportive environment. She is the contact for enrollment inquiries.

Families can reach Smiles at [email protected] or visit ywcagrn.org/preschool. No application deadline has been publicly announced.