The New Bayside YMCA -- Almost there!

For anyone who does not know, the Bayside Y has been undergoing a massive construction project. Last August, our indoor pool was drained, after which a good portion of our building was demolished, and in the time since, we have all watched as a beautiful new facility rose up in its place. This new space, the Hall Family Center and the Collis Aquatic Center, will boast a six-lane pool with an additional family-style splash and play pool. With our new elevator, we will be fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and there will be brand new locker rooms, lounge areas and much more.

This time has not been without its inconveniences! Ask anyone who has been there. Over the course of the last nine months or so, the staff and members have endured numerous headaches, from pounding jackhammers to re-routing of traffic and musical entrances. Group exercise classes and the after-school kids have shared the gymnasium. We all had to traipse out to temporary restrooms in a trailer parked next to the building. But we’ve been in this thing together, and the perseverance demonstrated by one and all has been remarkable. The staff has done everything they could to put a “positive spin” on the experience, offering free chair massage in the lobby, handing out fresh fruit and other goodies, and generally providing that signature YMCA spirit. And the members have been endlessly patient and tolerant of the nuisance of it all.

The hope is that the new facility will open ahead of schedule – it will certainly uphold its promise to be ready by the end of this summer. So stay tuned. You are gonna love the new Bayside Y.