Longtime visitors to the Frank Phillips YMCA in downtown Columbus are convinced the renovations of the 86-year-old facility included an expansion.
That, said YMCA Executive Director Andy Boyd, might be the best testimonial yet as the six-month project nears completion.
“The Y is about strengthening our community bringing together people from all walks of life in a positive, healthy environment, and that was our goal coming into this,” Boyd said. “We just wanted a more welcoming environment.”
Major renovations include re-orienting the entrance to its original entrance on Second Avenue North, converting the YMCA’s original gym to a centralized Healthy Living Center, re-roofing the pool area and re-paving the main parking lot of the east side of the facility, which opened in 1930.
“We’re really close now,” Boyd said. “About all that is left to do is to stripe the parking lot and do some pressure washing on the pool and pool deck. I’ll cross my fingers and say everything will be finished in a couple of weeks.”
He said the Y will hold an Open House on Oct. 24 for members and non-members alike.
Boyd declined to say how much the renovations to the privately-funded facility cost, but he feels the improvements were definitely needed.
“We hadn’t done any real renovations since around 1980, I think, so we definitely felt like it was time to make some changes that will make the Y more appealing to our members and visitors,” he said.
Moving the main entrance to its original spot, Boyd said, will help the “flow’ and allow members to better access the various facilities.
“I think it just makes for a more welcoming environment,” he said.
YMCA members have noticed the facility’s more effective use of its space.
“I really like what they’ve done, all of it,” said Larry Webber, a retired firefighter and a YMCA member for five years. “It just seems like there’s more room for everything. Before, it always seemed a little cramped.”
The conversion of the small original gym to the new Healthy Living center, where the bulk of the Y’s weight-lifting and cardio equipment is now located, appears to be a big hit with members.
The Healthy Living Center was the first part of the renovations and was completed in May and includes 47 new pieces of exercise equipment.
Kimbery Smith, a mother of five, said she especially likes having the cardio and weight-lifting equipment in the new location.
“I’ve been a member for probably 25 years,” she said. “It definitely needed some updates, and I really like the set-up and the new equipment, which is really nice.”
The Healthy Living Center, too, Boyd said, is an example of better using the available space.
“Before, we had equipment in four or five different areas,” Boyd said. “By consolidating them all into one common area, we’ve heard from members that it does feel like we’ve added space, even though our square footage hasn’t changed. Again, we think that serves our goal of bringing people together. Before, you might have 20 people here at any give time, but there might be two people in one area, a few more in another and a few more in another. You might have old friends or potential friends there when you’re there, but you might not ever see them. Now, those 20 people are in one area. We are literally bringing people together by having that centralized area.”
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 44 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.