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Y Grand Reopening Marks Renewed Commitment to Families

Ceremony Celebrates Completion of Significant Renovations

Red Bank, NJ (Oct. 15, 2011) – Local officials, community leaders and schoolchildren joined The Community YMCA Friday, October 14 in celebrating the grand reopening of the organization’s flagship facility in Red Bank. The 41-year-old Family Health & Wellness Center underwent an extensive renovation over the past nine months to create a more open, modern facility that better meets community needs.

“Our Y is where families connect and enjoy quality time together,” said Tim Watters, Chairman of the Y Board of Directors and Chief Volunteer Officer. “And most importantly, our Y is where everyone is welcome.”

More than 8,000 children, teens, adults and seniors from all backgrounds, faiths and income levels call the Y “home,” Watters said. “We’re pleased to be able make this home away from home more inviting, more modern and more spacious for children, teens and adults to spend time together in a healthy and safe environment.”

Interim President and CEO and Chief Financial Officer Rich Ayres noted that the 65,000-square-foot facility was redesigned with today’s busy family in mind. The new spacious lobby is welcoming with comfortable seating areas for families to interact.  To encourage kids to be more physically active, a new Youth and Teen Center is equipped with the latest in X-er game fitness technology including Wii game consoles and a Jump-Q platform along with cardio and strength training machines especially designed for kids. For younger children, the Child Watch room has more than doubled in size allowing more open space for active play.

The redesigned Y features a state-of-the art wellness center with more than 90 cardio and strength training machines, two new group fitness studios, expanded adult locker rooms with new steam rooms and new HVAC systems in the pool areas and family locker rooms. The exterior of the building was also spruced up with landscaping improvements by Lastella Bros. Lawn Care & Landscaping and a seasonal display by Sickles Market. Employees from Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Red Bank volunteered their time planting shrubs, flowers and trees along the front of the building.

The project was designed by Kaplan Gaunt DeSantis Architects of Red Bank and managed by Charles B. Hembling & Son Builders/Construction Managers, Shrewsbury.

Area residents experienced the new Y at a Grand Reopening Open House on Saturday, Oct. 15.  Adults sampled classes in the redesigned studios and kids and teens enjoyed activities in the new interactive areas. Thank you to Jacques Catering, Starbucks and Smoothie King for providing refreshments in the new lobby, and Lawless Chiropractic & Wellness Center for offering residents a free chair massage. Families also enjoyed taking photos by an outdoor Fallscape created by Sickles Market.

Tours of the newly renovated facility are ongoing and families are welcome. For more information, please call our Welcome Center at (732) 741-2504.

 Red Bank Mayor Pat Menna (with scissors) and children from Red Bank Charter School help celebrate the Y’s Grand Reopening at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Oct. 14 at the newly renovated facility. Also in the photo are (left to right): Y Chairman of the Board and Chief Volunteer Officer Tim Watters; Superintendent of Red Bank Borough Schools Laura Morana; State Senator Jennifer Beck; Y Interim CEO and Chief Financial Officer Richard Ayres; Charter School Principal Meredith Pennotti; Freeholder Amy Mallet; and, Y board member Louis Rodriguez.

Tim Watters (far right) Y Chairman of the Board and Chief Volunteer Officer, welcomes Ron Grammer and Bob DeSantis of Kaplan Gaunt DeSantis Architects of Red Bank, who designed the renovation, and Guy Hembling of Charles B. Hembling & Son Builders/Construction Managers, Shrewsbury, who provided construction management oversight.

Community YMCA staff in the new and improved lobby, complete with coffee bar and Wi-Fi to create a more welcoming space for members.  From left to right:   Matthew Shaughnessy; Carly Moresco, Membership Director;  Diane Perito; and Linda Ambis, Executive Director of the Family Health & Wellness Center.

YMCA member Angel Norris, of Ocean, shows Y youth advocate Carol Stillwell how to use the equipment in the Y’s new Youth & Teen Center, made possible by a gift from Stillwell.