This issue we spoke with Tim Peters, the executive director of the Chesterfield YMCA branch at the Gateway Region YMCA, about the Y’s recent facility expansion.
Detail all the new features included in the new expansion at the Chesterfield YMCA.
TP: We strategically put a lot of time and thought into this renovation project. We wanted to make sure these changes would allow us to not only continue to serve our community but expand our offerings. We expanded and reconfigured three group exercise studios: cycling, mind and body, and group exercise. The reconfiguration of these spaces throughout the Y will allow us to serve more members and community participants effectively. All who visit the facility will have an improved experience and we’ll accommodate increased participation in everything from Active Older Adult programs to Community Health programs like YMCA Diabetes Prevention, LiveSTRONG at the YMCA and Exercise for Parkinson’s.
We also added an 11,000 square-foot fitness center with brand new state-of-the-art equipment including a functional fitness workout area. We also remodeled both the men’s and women’s locker rooms and built a brand-new universal locker room. Further commons areas were designed throughout the facility to serve as virtual workspaces, family waiting areas and senior gathering spaces, allowing us to keep that community feel.
What was the main driver behind completing this project? Who helped make it possible?
TP: Without these renovations, we wouldn’t be able to meet the needs of our community as our old space wasn’t configured to meet the growing needs. Our changes allow everyone to easily and safely access spaces, something that was extremely challenging prior to the remodel.
We embarked on a capital campaign to help offset the costs of the project. Without the generosity of so many donors, this project wouldn’t have been possible. These donors allowed us to move forward and complete this project.
From this experience, what advice/tips would you provide other leaders when it comes to expansion and renovations?
TP: Be patient. This project was extremely complicated and required a lot of work between the Y and our general contractor to meet the timeline for this project. A lot of coordination went into ensuring there was as little disruption as possible to members. The members had to endure a lot over the 18 months of construction, and we tried to make it as painless as possible. That wasn’t always the case, but we stayed open and continued to serve our community throughout the entire process.
How do you hope this new expansion benefits your community?
TP: We were strategic in designing spaces that would allow everyone to be part of this community. Along with the other growth and development in the surrounding area, the time was right to refresh this Y. That’s because we could ensure accessibility, opportunity, connectedness, and a continued focus on health and wellness for the next 30-plus years.
The Y is more than a gym and swim. We’re a place where people gather. It’s not just a place where you come to exercise, but where you meet your friends. It’s a place where maybe you come to exercise your mind by playing chess or Mahjong or Bridge. Or you can come have a cup of coffee with your best friend. This renovation kept all that in mind. It wasn’t simply done to give us a bigger workout area. These renovations allow us to carry out our mission for years to come.
