McCook Daily Gazette: Local News: YMCA plans expansion for aerobics, weight room (08/31/10)

A larger weight room and two new aerobic/fitness areas were recently approved by the McCook YMCA Board of Directors as part of the first facility expansion project since the YMCA was built in 1981.

Y Director Mike Gonzales said that generous bequests from the Lester and Helen Wolfe and Willard W. Troutwine and Mildred H. Troutwine Estates will fund the expansion, which is expected to cost about $300,000. The benefactors did not earmark the funds for a specific purpose, leaving the board with a great deal of flexibility in design of the improvements.

The project will add about 1,700 square feet of new space on the upper and lower levels of the YMCA building.

"There will be an aerobic / fitness room designed specifically for fitness classes," Gonzales said.

"That will allow us to discontinue using the middle of the running/walking track for the classes and will allow us offer a larger variety of classes in a private setting."

The new weight room will be approximately one-third larger than the existing space. The current weight room will be "re-fitted" as a multi-purpose room and will be available for classes and meetings.

In addition to the expansion, which was approved at the board's March meeting, plans to evaluate and upgrade exercise and weight room equipment are also in progress.

Another $125,000 has been set aside from the bequests for that purpose. The inside of the running track will see additional equipment such as treadmills and elliptical machines.

Board President Ken Allen said, "The YMCA wants to place itself as the leading force for health and fitness in our community." He noted that the board, which approved the expansion at its March meeting, had set the upgrade as a priority during its last goal-setting session.

In October 2009 the YMCA Board discontinued charging fees to its members for fitness classes. Allen said the Y's effort to help combat the rising statistics of obesity was well received. Participation in health and fitness classes at the Y has risen significantly since that time.

"The committee did a great job of developing options, exploring the pros and cons of each option and determining what would fit the Y's current needs and its needs in the future," Allen said.

The additional square footage is slated to be enclosed by this fall.

The YMCA has contracted with the engineering/architectural firm of W Design of McCook to lead the project.