YCMA north reopens ‘bigger, better, stronger’: CEO
Director cites community ‘need’, population growth
SAVANNAH AWDE
The north-side YMCA will reopen its doors as a fitness facility in February, after converting its space to a child-care centre during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Bigger, better and stronger” is how Fredericton YMCA president and CEO Darcy Delaney describes the upgraded space at Willie O’Ree Place.
“We’ve definitely understood there’s been more community need and community demand for a health and wellness space in the city, and we’ve had a partnership with the city for a long time to utilize that space as a wellness centre,” Delaney said Friday.
“So coming out of COVID, we have reallocated resources to make sure that we can reopen that location.”
The decision in 2020 to remove the fitness equipment was about “operational efficiencies, or lack thereof,” the CEO said.
“That was actually heading into COVID time. During COVID, we clearly identified a demand for more childcare and support for people looking for places to put their children before and after school,” Delaney said.
All families using the service were notified during the 2022-23 school year that the after school program wouldn’t continue in the next year, Delaney said.
“We had communicated that decision ... with what we believe was an appropriate amount of time for them to make other arrangements,” he said. “(It) was always meant to be sort of a short-term solution.”
The CEO is confident the northside location won’t have the same inefficiency issues this time around.
“We’re making a significant investment in new and modern equipment,” Delaney said.
“We understand that there’s been growth in population in this city unlike ever before. Our operating model is going to provide more opportunities for partner organizations to use that space for health and fitness, and overall we believe there’s great community confidence in the YMCA.”
According to a news release from the organization, the new facility will be designed to serve all levels of athletic ability.
“The general design of the wellness centre is divided into eight sections, each focusing on a specific area of physical performance,” it said.
“There will also be a section with couches and a television, which provides a space for coaching and also a place for members to socialize and build connections.”
While there are other fitness options on the north side, Delaney said the YMCA is necessary as an accessible option to the community.
“The YMCA is a charity, and so we’re able to accommodate individuals who may not otherwise be able to access other health and fitness spaces,” he said.
“We’ve been over there for years, and we felt some push-back from the community when the initial decision was made to pull out of that space. So we wanted to come back with something bigger, better and stronger.”
The exact opening date will be given at a later time, Delaney said, as the organization awaits “confirmation” from fitness suppliers.
The CEO noted YMCA members can access facilities on both the north and south sides of the city.
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2023-11-18T08:00:00.0000000Z
2023-11-18T08:00:00.0000000Z
https://tjnews.pressreader.com/article/281526525789861
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