YMCA

Lynn Farris · Post by **Lynn Farris** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:30 pm

Got a tour tonight of the new YMCA. It looks terrific and they were extremely efficient at processing new members. Kudos to all involved.

Danielle Masters · Post by **Danielle Masters** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 9:12 pm

We were also there tonight and they certainly were efficient at processing memberships. The kids were ready to stay and go swimming. It is definitely a beautiful facility. One more thing for Lakewood to be proud of.

lisa shaffer-gill · Post by **lisa shaffer-gill** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 9:45 pm

But what's with the giant green... heater? air conditioning unit? ... BOX sitting in the FRONT of the building? Was that in the original design? Is that the best place for it? It couldn't go in the back, on the roof, or at the very least the side of the builiding? I'm sure in the summer those knee high shrubs will do wonders for hiding it from view. I think it's an ugly shame. Someone's bad decision has ruined the front of an otherwise fine building.

DougHuntingdon · Post by **DougHuntingdon** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:38 am

Is that a mega lightspeed box from AT&T??? JOB or someone get over there with your camera

Doug

Chris Trapp · Post by **Chris Trapp** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:16 am

We stopped by the Y last night and it is beautiful - and packed with people joining. My wife, who is in the fitness business, said the facility was excellent - she even signed up.
My only dissapointment was that there is no front entrance. The front just has what I believe is an emergency exit door. I do love the windows at the front where all of the fitness equipment is.

Stephanie Toole · Post by **Stephanie Toole** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 2:44 pm

Our family was so excited to rejoin (we had not been Y memebers for about 10 years) the Lakewood Y. The family membersip is very affortable. We have been their more times than I can count, almost daily, since mid December. While it is a fantastic facility, my concern is that without a City Recreation facility, and inadequate programs offered by the Lakewood Recreation Dept. will the Lakewood Y be able to handle the demand from a city the size of Lakewood?
How terrific that the membership is growing. I am told they are registering more members and at a faster rate than they had anticipated. I really speaks volumes about how much the residents of Lakewood long for such a facility.
But, as this is happening, the facility is becoming so crowded, that at times it is getting very frustrating to go there and have to wait for just about every exercise and weight machine, to try and register only to be closed out of the exercise classes or if you are fortunate enough to get in, you are squeezed in to the room body to body. Try to lap swimming with 4-5 swimmers in a lane and kids, who are and should be, having lots of fun, cross over the ropes and get in the way. But,by far, the most frustrating situation so far for me was bringing my little ones to the child care room, only to be told it was at maximum capacity and that I would have to put them on a waiting list until there was room for them. I knew it was not the fault of the young girl working there. She felt terrible.
Will they cap membership? At what point will the demands for using such a facillity far out grow the ability to adequetly meet the needs of the members? Just wondering what experiences other are having at the Y.

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 7:18 am

Stephanie Toole wrote:But,by far, the most frustrating situation so far for me was bringing my little ones to the child care room, only to be told it was at maximum capacity and that I would have to put them on a waiting list until there was room for them. I knew it was not the fault of the young girl working there. She felt terrible.

Stephanie

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It would seem to be a bigger success then they planned. In many cities the YMCA's are closing or downsizing. I think this shows just how vibrant Lakewood can be when one can connect with the needs of this city.

They are working on various scenarios for child care. They were aware of the problem before opening and trying to find the space.

Thanks again.

.

Mike Deneen · Post by **Mike Deneen** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 7:32 am

A friend of mine works at Ballys....according to her, January is always a very busy time at the gym. New Years resolutions are the greatest thing ever to happen to the fitness industry.

HOwever, human nature inevitably prevails. Usually by February many of those highly-committed new customers are back in front of the TV catching up on American Idol or other such stuff, freeing up the gym for the regulars.