Sponsored Feature
YMCA at crossroads of fun & fitness
From our weekly issue dated February 11, 2009
People of all ages enjoy the YMCA. “Some are young body builders, but we also see a lot of seniors trying to stay healthy, keep active and enjoy a good life.” (Photo by Zina Booth)
“It’s Fun to Play at the YMCA” is an apt slogan for the Grants Pass Family YMCA that serves all of Josephine County.
During a rainy weekend, when everyone has cabin fever, how can you entertain the whole family on a limited budget? Dad needs to work out, and mom requests swimming, while grandma wishes to read a book and knit. The teen-agers crave rock-climbing and basketball, but the pre-teen demands Dance Revolution and Wii bowling.
Time to check out the Grants Pass Family YMCA -- enjoy all its amenities for just $20 per day for the entire family. Child-care is available for $1 per hour for members, or $2 for nonmembers.
The Grants Pass swimming pool was originally built at the same time and with the same configuration as the Illinois Valley pool, except that the Grants Pass pool was enclosed. After five years, Josephine County lost money and was ready to close the doors, but in 1983 YMCA revived the Grants Pass swimming pool. In the early '90s, producers filming The River Wild needed a deep-end pool to do filming. The YMCA ended up with a new hot tub in exchange for closing during nine days of filming.
And 18 months ago, YMCA spent $20,000 on a new water purification system that uses salt, or sodium chloride, instead of chlorine. Salt doesn’t burn the eyes, and members appreciate the softer feel with fewer irritations and no green hair. The old method cost $800/month for chlorine; current cost for the salt is $50 to $100 per month. The YMCA recently spent $4,000 to replace cells that break down the salt; this replacement cost is offset by savings of $700 month by not using chlorine.
What was originally the horse track viewing lounge turned into a fitness room. “When we first got here, there were a couple of barbells, 12 hydraulic resistance machines and three bikes. We are not the same little place we once were,” proudly notes Executive Director Kevin Clark.
Now there is a weight room with 6,000 square feet of space filled with 25 weight stack machines, 15 plate-loaded benches, and eight flat and incline benches. This huge weight room was paid for with donations and grant money. The cardio room features 40 different machines, including treadmills, bikes, elliptical, and stair climbers. There is an amazing variety of machines for working muscles in the stomach, sides, shoulders, biceps, triceps, quads and hamstrings.
Other amenities include an R&R (Recreation & Relationships) room, complete with pool table, table tennis, air hockey and foosball. From 4 to 9 p.m., staff members play games and build relationships by giving kids something positive to do.
People of all ages enjoy the YMCA. “Some are young body builders, but we also see a lot of seniors trying to stay healthy, keep active and enjoy a good life,” Clark points out. “Our mission,” he said, “is to improve lives of people by making them stronger and healthier.”
Senior-friendly exercise classes enhance flexibility, which helps senior citizens live a happy, healthy, long life. Other classes include stretching, Tai chi, and yoga. An archery class fulfills P.E. requirements for home-schooled students. Sports offered include basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer and badminton.
A 30-foot high rock-climbing wall is available weekdays from 4 to 8 p.m. and weekends 1 to 5 p.m. The YMCA even offers a cozy lobby with a small book collection for socializing, and a meeting place for a youth knitting class.
“These days at 10 a.m., or between 5 and 6 p.m., the parking lot is full,” stated Clark. “It never used to be that way. I’ve seen a lot of changes. This used to be a relatively quiet little place, now it’s bustling.”
The Grants Pass Family YMCA currently has 5,800 different members, with nearly 1,300 guests coming through the doors every day. Clark points out that you don’t have to be a member to use the facilities. Other organizations that use the YMCA include swim teams and youth groups; probably 15,000 people use the club in one manner or another.
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The YMCA began in London in 1844 because George Williams was concerned about the spiritual well-being of young men. What started as Bible study expanded to libraries and reading rooms, then night school and community college programs. Fitness also became a focal point; in order to obtain a strong spirit and mind, one also needs a strong body. Basketball was invented at a YMCA, along with volleyball, softball and racquetball. Fathers Day was the creation of a Spokane YMCA, and in 1940 a YMCA in Kansas City started the National Negro League.
During the past 30-40 years, the YMCA evolved into serving men, women, boys and girls. Grants Pass Family YMCA is open to everybody, and is one of 2,500 clubs throughout the United States, including Medford, Ashland, Roseburg, and Klamath Falls. The YMCA creed is to help people become “Caring, Honest, Responsible, and Respectful.”
YMCA membership rates vary, with a one-time $50 enrollment fee, then monthly payments ranging from $46 per month for an adult to $73 for the whole family. Seniors and children are offered special rates. Many members auto-draft from their checking account or credit card. The YMCA does not use contracts; people can stop whenever they want.
Nonmember daily admission fee is $5 children, $8 for teens, $12 for adult, or $20 for the entire family. This day pass covers everything the YMCA offers, from weight room to exercise classes, swimming and the climbing wall. As a nonprofit, YMCA is here to serve people, not make money, and it has a policy of never turning anyone away due to inability to pay. Out of the 5,800 members, close to 1,500 receive reduced rates due to disability or low income. Fees are based on a sliding scale -- request an application.
The Grants Pass Family YMCA is located at 1000 Redwood Ave. near the Josephine County Fairgrounds. Facility hours are weekdays from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays 8 to 5, and Sundays noon until 5. For more information, phone 474-0001.
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