New YMCA Opens Saturday

The North End YMCA will be welcoming members and the public starting Saturday.

CEO Zane Korytko says they wanted to create a facility that fit the needs of the fast-growing community.

“A lot of young families are moving into the community and then there’s also the people who are well-established in the community that are also looking for an opportunity so we wanted to sort of hit a home run along the way so that families can come in and enjoy it,” he says.

The brand new facility includes an indoor splash pad, fitness area and an indoor track.

Another one of its unique features is the single change room for men, women and families.

“With the universal change room, sometimes I think it’s a little hard to comprehend, but once you walk through it you can fully understand what it is. There’s secluded and floor-to-ceiling change areas where you can go in, change, take your stuff out and put it n your locker. Then you finishing your workout, get your clothes and then you can shower in your own cubicle,” he says.

Korytko says since Y members will be able to use both facilities, they wanted to minimize duplication of amenities and services.

He says is also built with expandability in mind so there’s room for other features in the future.

Korytko says there are also a few social area where individuals can meet up or get some work done.

“Part of the vision of what citizens wanted was a little bit of a social hub where people can come in, sit down, relax. You can plug in, there’s wifi throughout the entire building and it gives people the ability to call this place their own,” he says.

He added that they were able to open earlier and are expecting the 17-million dollar project to be below budget.