Treadmills hummed and exercise bikes twirled as members of the Greater Glenville Family YMCA celebrated the grand opening of the new 4,000-square-foot wellness center Friday, March 14.
Isn’t this exciting, said Glenville YMCA Executive Director Donna Pravel with a broad smile, as she welcomed the more than 100 community members to the new facility. `This YMCA is more than a wellness center, it is a community.`
Others echoed her sentiment throughout the afternoon.
`It’s very comfortable; you feel very at home here,` said Cathy Peterson, who teaches a babysitting course at the Glenville Y.
The new wellness center features seven treadmills, 30 cardio machines, and two new state-of-the-art stationary bikes that allow the riders to compete in a race.
Pravel said they would also be adding two spin bikes to the center, and a boxing corner.
`It has been a while coming,` said Kelly Lee Olson, chair of the Capital District YMCA board of directors.
What began as a mere dream eight years ago is now a reality for former Greater Glenville Family YMCA Executive Director John Reilly.
`It was a daily dream of mine to see this into fruition,` said Reilly, who is the executive director at the Schenectady YMCA.
`He never gave up through all the work that needed to be done,` said Olson of Reilly.
The new wellness center was partially funded through $100,000 from the YMCA’s capital campaign, which seeks donations from the community and members of the Y.
However, with the help of volunteer capital campaign chairman, Bob Harrison, the project was able to come into existence.
`He was instrumental in securing funds for the fitness center,` said Olson.
The rise in membership at the Greater Glenville YMCA prompted the staff to focus on expanding the facility.
`The wellness center is a small part of what we do,` Pravel said. `We’re much more than that. It [the wellness center] enables us to more for everybody.`
According to Pravel, the Glenville YMCA serves more than 6,000 members.
In January, 33 members of the Glenville YMCA decided to work toward losing 600 pounds total in honor of the fitness center’s original size, which was 600 square feet.
The members lost more than 181 pounds total, and the winner was Neal Kirsch.
The entire facility, which features a pool and childcare center is now 23,000 square feet.
As a part of the grand opening, the YMCA also hosted a bench press competition Saturday, which drew 21 people, and a family day on Sunday. More than 100 families enjoyed everything from swimming to the bouncy machine during Sunday’s event.
`They were phenomenal,` said Pravel of the weekend’s events.“