With upgrades, even more fun to stay at the YMCA
S.B. facility completes new exercise areas, teen center, offices and more
BY CHRIS GAETANO
Staff Writer

Top, brand-new fitness equipment was purchased as part of the South Brunswick YMCA's latest round of renovations. The YMCA has renovated 12,000 square feet of space to create a new gymnasium, among many other improvements.

SOUTH BRUNSWICK - The township's YMCA completed renovating 12,000 square feet of its facility, the second round of improvements in six years.

The improvements, which were officially completed on Jan. 22, focused mainly on the facility's exercise areas. The fitness center was completely repainted and all new equipment was purchased, including cardiovascular and strength training machines. The area also had two new windows and a rubber performance floor that may look like wooden tile but is actually a material called Tile-Flex.

The bulk of the upgrades were in an area that had been used for storage. It was converted into a gymnasium that can host indoor volleyball, basketball, soccer, t-ball, gymnastics and badminton. The area will also include a walking track around the perimeter, a meeting room, and what YMCA director Tom Libassi calls a "teen center."

PHOTOSBY CHRIS GAETANO

The teen center will have new furniture, a foosball table, a pool table, a pingpong table, TV and a music lounge area. Meanwhile, the old gymnastics area was converted into a child care area to reduce waiting times for parents, and the Kids Korner, a baby-sitting area, was also remodeled.

Next to the fitness area was a new special activities room paid for by a community development block grant. It will be used for things such as yoga instruction and for an autistic summer camp.

Finally, new offices for the IT director and the aquatics director were added in. The renovations, according to Libassi, were actually completed with less money than had been originally budgeted, $500,000. In total, construction took about four months.

"We're very pleased with how everything came together and how well everyone worked together in all of this," said Libassi.

This was the first major construction project he has overseen since becoming director of the local YMCA in 2004. Libassi said that around 2001, about 19,000 square feet of space had been renovated. With this newest round complete, the entire facility has now joined the 21st century.

"It went very smoothly. S&K Construction did an excellent job. There were minimal interruptions and the job came in under budget and on time. … It was a good learning experience," said Libassi.

While the changes are only about a week old, Libassi said that the response so far has been positive. The most popular change, to Libassi, has been to the fitness area. Programs for children have already been held in the new facilities, and parents have already signed up for more now that the YMCA has more space.

While the latest round of renovations to the facility has ended, it does not mark the end of construction. The YMCA has plans to build a large indoor pool in addition to the smaller therapy pool it already has. The funding will come from the Middlesex County Open Space and Recreation Trust Fund, which has contributed $3 million toward the pool's construction. It is not the first time the county has put money toward the construction of swimming pools, having used money in similar ways with Old Bridge, Piscataway and South Amboy.

An indoor pool has been an option eyed by many factions in South Brunswick for different reasons. The YMCA is responding to a survey taken among members that expressed they would like a pool added. The school district has wanted one for the high school swim team to practice in - currently, team members need to drive out of town for access. The township, meanwhile, has been meaning to get one built for no small number of years, but always had to put it off due to other priorities.

Access to the pool by the district and the township was a condition that came with the county's money. Township officials praised the arrangement.

"This is a comprehensive indoor swimming facility that the township and school and the Y will all benefit from," Mayor Frank Gambatese said during the Jan. 23 Township Council meeting.

"The freeholders realized the impact the Y has with South Brunswick ... and wanted to do something that could help us," said Libassi.

The YMCA will be holding an official rededication ceremony for the renovations on Feb. 10. While the funding for the pool has been secured, plans still need to be drawn up.