After years of planning and months of construction, the Republic Bank Foundation YMCA, the 12th and newest YMCA of Greater Louisville location, is open for business.
Following its official opening on December 14 and dedication ceremony on December 18, the 77,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility has received a very warm reception from the surrounding neighborhoods.
“The response by the community has been extraordinary,” said Steve Tarver, the president and CEO of the Louisville Y. “Having spent quite a few hours in the building since its opening, I have been thrilled to see people of all ages, backgrounds, sizes, shapes and colors visiting with smiles on their faces, making amazing comments about their reactions.”
To say this new YMCA is impressive is an understatement. While the Republic Bank Foundation Y was a construction zone when the association was on the cover of the May/June 2019 issue, it’s now a comprehensive blend of wellness services — a community integrated health facility.
The first of its kind, the Republic Bank Foundation Y plays host to a number of wellness services that extend beyond fitness, including a pediatric and family medicine clinic, rehabilitation clinic, center for behavioral and mental health, and bank location.
With more additional services than expected at a typical YMCA, much of the facility’s early success has been dependant on the staff’s ability to embrace new processes and still engage members. “I’m proud of our staff,” said Tarver. “Many of them are brand new to many of the technical parts of this Y. But they all bring great hearts to work — a trademark of the Y.”
The Republic Bank Foundation Y has drawn good attendance numbers in its first month. As an added bonus, the facility’s non-fitness services have already seen more foot traffic than expected. But that doesn’t mean the work is done.
“We have much to learn,” shared Tarver. “We are listening to our members, and getting feedback regarding programs, hours of operation and further connecting with the broader community.”
This focus on the community — the reason a new facility was built in the first place — will the driving force for the Republic Bank Foundation Y and the entire Louisville Y association.
“The bottom line about the future is that it’s about the people,” said Tarver. “It’s about expanding access to healthy choices, promoting relationships, addressing the social determinants of health, and mutual support in making and sustaining healthy activities, setting goals and changing behaviors.”
This commitment to strengthening the community through a wide variety of wellness services is reflected in the sentiment Tarver shared at the facility’s dedication: ”Dedicating this building is not the end of the work — it’s the beginning! We now need to be about people, not a building.”
You can check out the cool services and amenities at the Republic Bank Foundation YMCA in the gallery below:
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Bobby is the former editor of Community Rec Magazine.
