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Here We GROW Again

New Year, New Equipment at YMCA
Constitution-Tribune, Wed Jan 07, 2009

CAPTION: The new exercise room upstairs at Grand River Area Family YMCA was busy this (Wednesday) morning with several people exercising on the new cardiovascular machines equipped with television monitors. The YMCA has recently completed its $1 million capital improvement project and now features bathrooms upstairs (one of which is pictured on the left), a new virtual golf course (beyond the glass doors), additional weight equipment, a new gymnastics center, a meeting room downstairs, an excergaming room for youth and additional parking spaces.

C-T Photo / Laura Schuler

The Grand River Area Family YMCA’s $1 million capital improvement project is now complete and officials there say many people are taking advantage of the new amenities. “People really like the new adult equipment — they especially like the new weights and that they can watch television on the individual cardio equipment,” executive director Dave Rogers said today (Wednesday). Rogers said that virtually all of the new equipment became operational last week, but some weights did arrive yesterday (Tuesday). His comments came a morning after one of the busiest days the YMCA has experienced, which he said, is most likely due to several factors.

“People do have New Year’s resolutions (to get into shape),” Rogers said. However he noted that the numbers are also higher because there is additional exercise equipment that can accommodate more people. Specifically, Rogers said there were 465 members who scanned their “cards” between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. Tuesday. But, Rogers said, that figure doesn’t include the people who weren’t members who came to the YMCA to watch their children participate in gymnastics or go to the men’s basketball practice. “That’s probably between 200 and 300 more people right there,” Rogers said.

Along with building a new gymnastics center, adding bathrooms and a virtual golf course, there is a new meeting room downstairs and 24 new parking spaces — all of which were in high demand Tuesday night and will be utilized Saturday with the start of the popular Y-Winners youth basketball program. Rogers said the YMCA purchased about $49,000 worth of new exercise and weight equipment for adults and roughly $27,000 on equipment for the youth excergaming room downstairs which has also been well received. “The kids really like our new excergaming room,” Rogers said. He added that the area has only been open two days last week for regular usage.

In that room, Rogers said, there are a few virtual games designed for youths and because a few of the games require lots of open space for the games to be played, the room looks like there is much open space. “The kids playing tennis need the entire width of the room,” Rogers explained. He also said the new Tazer game requires additional space for kids to move around. One bike, Rogers said, is not yet operational in that room.

Workers Lay Flooring at Grand River YMCA 
Constitution-Tribune, Wed Nov 26, 2008

C-T Photo/ Laura Schuler

Workers lay flooring in the Grand River Area Family YMCA’s new exercise-gaming room Wednesday morning. Once finished, active gaming equipment for young YMCA-goers will arrive, along with about 12 new exercise pieces for adults, which will be placed in the facility’s new open room upstairs. The work is being done as part of the YMCA’s $1 million capital improvement project.

YMCA Boost
C-T Photo/Laura Schuler, Constitution-Tribune, November 13, 2008

Dave Rogers, executive director of the Grand River Area Family YMCA, (left) receives a check from Mark Simmer, Chillicothe State Bank president, (right) earmarked for the YMCA capital improvement project. The donation, for $25,000, will be paid over the next three years.

YMCA Grand Opening for Gymnastics Training Center
Constitution-Tribune, Thu Nov 06, 2008

The new gymnastics training center is now finished and the Grand River Area Family YMCA is inviting everyone to the center’s grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 8, from noon to 2 p.m. The come-and-go open house will feature performances from the Aerial Angels gymnastics team members who will use all the apparatus, organizers say. Refreshments will also be offered.

Rinda Williams, gymnastics coach and director, said she is thrilled with the new center. “This is just really exciting,” she said today. “They just finished painting a huge mural on the center’s south wall and it’s just breathtaking,” Williams added.

Aerial Angels of all ages and skill levels will be exhibiting their skills during the open house, Williams said. "The way it looks, everyone’s coming. Our new little team members will be performing too and everyone will be in their team wear,” Williams said. She added that the event will help the team prepare for its first meet next weekend (Nov. 15-16). Williams said her level 8 gymnast, Ayron Osborn, of Trenton, Mo., will also be performing Saturday. “She (Osborne) will be performing really big skills — skills seen on television with college students, so this might be the first time some people have an opportunity to watch something like that in person,” Williams said.

The gymnastics training center has actually been in operation for three to four weeks now, according to Dave Rogers, YMCA executive director. He also noted that renovations upstairs and downstairs are just three or for weeks away from completion.

Expanding at the YMCA
By Catherine Stortz Ripley, Constitution-Tribune
Thu Oct 16, 2008

Work continues at Grand River Area Family YMCA where on the second floor a crew works on constructing a new adult cardio room. The room, adjacent to the weight room (shown at back, left) and walking track (back, center), will be equipped with state-of-the-art cardio fitness machines. Construction of this new area, which also includes a virtual golf course nearby, involved building a floor above the former gymnastics room which had been an open two-story space. A new gymnastics area was built onto the existing YMCA facility.

The Last Brick
Constitution-Tribune Wed Sep 03, 2008
By Laura Schuler

Gymnastics coach Rinda Williams (center) hammers the last brick into the Grand River Area Family YMCA’s new gymnastics center Tuesday afternoon during an informal ceremony marking the completion of the new gymnastics center’s exterior walls.

According to Dave Rogers, YMCA executive director, the new gymnastics center is just two or three weeks away from completion and workers were installing windows in the center Tuesday. Painters were expected to arrive today (Wednesday), and soon afterward, workers were scheduled to install lights and hook up the HVAC system. Once the new gymnastics center is completed, renovation work will begin on the old gymnastics center as part of the YMCA’s $1 million capital improvement project. Pictured with Williams is Dale Gerhart, owner of Gerhart Bricklaying, Meadville.

YMCA Work Continues Despite Rain
By Laura Schuler, Constitution-Tribune
Thu Jul 24, 2008

CAPTION: The cinder block interior walls of the new gymnastics center at the Grand River Area Family YMCA are going up despite the rainy spring and early summer. YMCA executive director Dave Rogers says an October completion date is still possible even though the project is somewhat behind schedule because of the wet conditions. Once the interior walls are up, workers will begin putting on the building’s roof and work on the exterior walls will begin.

The interior walls of the new gymnastics center at the Grand River Area Family YMCA are going up and it won’t be long before the roofing work will begin. According to Dave Rogers, executive director, the spring rains have slowed work down but an October completion date is still being predicted for the facility’s $1 million expansion and renovation project. “It does have to stop raining, though,” Rogers said.

Workers from Gerhardt Masonry, of Wheeling are currently working on laying the cinder blocks for the interior walls of the gymnastics center. That work, Rogers says, started in May and has been delayed a little because of the rains. Once that work is finished - probably by the end of August - Peyton Roofing, of Chillicothe, will begin the roofing work. “Once the roof is up, of course, we’ll no longer be so dependant on the weather,” Rogers said.

As the roofing work is going on, workers will begin putting the insulation up along the interior walls and then the exterior walls, comprised of brick, will go up next. The new gymnastics center is expected to be finished by the first week in September. Following that, the current gymnastics training center will be moved into the new, bigger location and the renovation work will be done in the old gymnastics training center.

YMCA Expansion Begins
News Notes from Dave Rogers...

It’s official. Construction has begun. Earth moving equipment has started the dirt work for both the parking lot and the new gymnastics center. This has turned our south lawn into a mud lot, but we’re happy to be underway with the work. Wet weather kept us from getting started earlier this month. We have decided to put curbing around the entirety of the new parking lot; the dirt will be re-sculpted to flatten out the valley that currently runs down the middle of the lawn thus spreading out and slowing down the flow of water.

David Copeland arranged for Edwin Korff & Associates of Prairie Village, Kansas to visit the facility here, review our plans, draw up a site plan & building elevations and put their architectural stamp on the work. They did all of this at no charge to the YMCA. Needless to say, we’re very grateful.

C-T Photo/Catherine Stortz Ripley

C-T Tuesday, April 29, 2008...
Dirt work has started on the south side of the Grand River Area Family YMCA where a new parking lot and gymnastics area will be added. This work is part of a $1 million expansion project for the facility which includes additional space for new cardiovascular machines, a virtual golf course, a dedicated youth exercise area, and a meeting room, and a new, larger gymnastics center. The additional parking area will be directly south of the main part of the building (shown at the center of this picture) and the gymnastics area will be built onto the SE corner of the existing facility, utilizing two existing walls (near where the dump truck is shown). See more on the detailed plans below...

YMCA Tops Campaign Goal
Breaks Ground for Expansion
Monday, March 31, 2008, C-T

CAPTION: Several Grand River Area Family YMCA board of directors, other capital improvement supporters and business and community leaders gathered this (Monday) morning on the south side of the facility for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the official start of construction work on the YMCA's addition. YMCA officials say over $1.1 million was raised for the project and work is scheduled to start this week or next, depending on the weather.

C-T Photo/Laura Schuler

With shovels in hand, several Grand River Area Family YMCA board of directors and other capital improvement supporters gathered on the south side of the building for a groundbreaking ceremony, marking the beginning of construction on the YMCA's $1 million expansion and renovation plan. According to Dave Rogers, YMCA executive director, the capital campaign has surpassed its goal of $1 million and, in fact, has raised just over $1.1 million.

“Each of the fundraising phases have gone over their goals,” Rogers said. Specifically, over $740,000 was raised in the Pace Setter category; over $200,000 was raised in the Major Gift category; and over $60,000 was raised in the Community Gift category. Most of those funds, Rogers says, are pledged over a three-year period, through 2010, however all construction on the project will be completed in 2008.

“We'll have to borrow some (funds) against our pledges in 2008,” Rogers said. He added that any funds left over following construction will be placed in the YMCA's endowment fund to help offset costs associated with the expansion such as utilities and staff. Rogers credited a “good plan and good people” with the capital improvement project's success. "It's just phenomenal how well this (plan) has been received in this community," Rogers said. He added that support from Chillicothe's bigger businesses and banks as well as receiving $280,000 in tax credits from the Neighborhood Assistance Program gave big boosts to the campaign. Rogers said that dirt work had been scheduled to start today (Monday), but may be delayed until next week.

YMCA Plans Expansion
Wednesday, January 16, 2008, C-T

Photo / Butch Shaffer 2008

CAPTION: Officials at Grand River Area Family YMCA at 1725 Locust Street have announced plans for expansion and renovation of its current facility and a $1 million capital campaign is underway to fund the plan. The project, which will begin in early April, will take the current two-story gymnastics center and change it into two, one-story spaces. A new meeting room and a youth exercise area is planned for the downstairs portion. In the upstairs, a virtual golf course, extensive cardiovascular machines and a bathroom will be added. The project also includes the construction of a new gymnastics center.

The Grand River Area Family YMCA has announced plans for an expansion and renovation of its current facility at 1725 Locust Street. The YMCA will be conducting a $1 million capital campaign in the next few months to fund these plans. According to Dave Rogers, executive director, this project would take the current two-story gymnastics center and change it into two, one-story spaces. The upstairs portion would house extensive additional space for new cardiovascular machines, bathrooms and a virtual golf course.

The first floor of the renovated space would house a dedicated youth exercise area and a meeting room. A new, larger 70-by-80-foot gymnastics center would be built onto the southeast corner of the existing facility (utilizing two existing walls will save on construction costs). The new gymnastics center would be able to accommodate all of the apparatuses including the competition spring floor. The parking lot would also be expanded by another 24 spaces on the west end of the YMCA's south lawn.

In addition to money raised for expansion and new equipment, the campaign will provide $200,000 to the YMCA endowment fund. Earnings from the endowment will cover the additional utility and personnel costs of more space. “The exciting thing about the whole project is the new equipment we will have for the kids in the youth exercise area - it's going to be really special,” Rogers said, adding that the equipment upstairs for the adults will be well-received also.

Dedicating areas just for kids to exercise is a trend starting to catch on all around the country, Rogers said. He explained that the Grand River Area Family YMCA's version will include a sports wall with lights all over it. Rogers said that children will be able to aim various sports balls (like soft balls or soccer balls) at the lights in an effort to hit the lights, which are said to be indestructible. The children's scores will be shown on a scoreboard also installed on the wall. “There will also be a couple of bikes that kids can ride and have steering wheels and a big screen on the wall where they can race other kids on these bikes,” he said. Another game, Rogers said, will involve children wearing a safety belt and by moving, the children will be able to control a figurine of themselves on television.

“The idea is that this is fun stuff to do and interactive - kids can relate to it immediately,” Rogers said. He explained that exercising on a treadmill and lifting weights isn't what children ages 10 to 14 years old consider to be “fun.” "Kids just don't stick with it, but they will stick with these games," Rogers said.

The new gymnastics center being planned will be large enough to handle the competition floor, which up until now, has had to be placed in the Browning Gymnasium. "This (the new gymnastics center) will then free up half of the Browning Gymnasium which has been taken up with the competition floor half of the year when the floor is down," Rogers explained. He went on to say that the virtual golf course upstairs was included in the project to offer YMCA patrons "something new and completely different." Rogers said that it would be available to adults, but may also be used to teach children how to golf.

Proposed Addition:

• More space upstairs
• New adult exercise equipment
• Bathrooms on second floor
• More parking (25 additional spaces on the west third of the south lawn)
• Dedicated youth exercise room
• New youth fitness equipment
• Expanded gymnastics center
• Additional meeting room
• Virtual golf course

The cost of building the center in the southeast corner of the YMCA may be somewhat reduced, Rogers said, because two existing walls will be used. Fund-raising, Rogers says, has already started. While he declined to say just how much money has been raised for the project, he did say that commitments from local foundations and others are "right on track." "We've been quietly asking our friends and bigger donors for monies and they have responded generously," Rogers said. Most donations, he said, will be pledged over a three year period. If all goes well, Rogers says, construction will likely start in April with the building of the new gymnastics center. Then the old gymnastics center will be renovated. Rogers says he hopes the project will be completely finished by this fall.

The Grand River Area Family YMCA was chartered by the YMCA of the USA on Sept. 6, 1989. At that time it operated out of an office on Washington street across from the Strand Hotel building. In the fall of 1990, the YMCA embarked on a capital campaign to build the current facility located on the north end of Locust Street. By the summer of 1991, $3.1 million had been pledged to the campaign and construction was able to start late that fall. On Nov. 1, 1992 the doors opened to the new YMCA.

The Grand River YMCA opened a branch in Brookfield serving Linn County in 1997. In 1998, the YMCA launched a successful capital campaign to expand the original building to include another gymnasium, gymnastics center, babysitting area, weight room and activity center. In 2001, the YMCA went on a third capital campaign, this time in Linn County to raise money to build the current YMCA facility located on west Helm street.

Dr. David Neal has volunteered to be chairman of the committee charged with raising $1 million. Others serving on that committee are Bill Young, Ed Douglas, Robert Cowherd, Julie McCoy, Inger Young, Mike Turner and Rollie Stadlman.

In addition to running many youth sports programs, the YMCA provides over $50,000 annually in scholarship assistance to area children and adults to defray membership and/or program costs. The YMCA also runs a youth mentoring program called Y-PALS. And it coordinates the Backpack Buddies program which provides food for children during the school year who might be going hungry over the weekends.

Great News:

HMC Donates $60,000 to YMCA's $1 Million Improvements Campaign
Published: Monday, March 3, 2008, C-T

The Grand River Area Family YMCA's $1 million capital improvements campaign has received a big boost from Hedrick Medical Center which has committed $60,000 toward the campaign which will be paid over a period of five years.

According to Dave Rogers, YMCA's executive director, HMC's donation puts the campaign closer to its goal. “We're closing in on $900,000. Once we get there, we'll contact the Mabee Foundation and inform them that we've met their challenge and then we'll be at the $1 million mark,” Rogers said. The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation, Inc., issued a challenge grant in the amount of $100,000 to the YMCA in February. Under the terms of this grant, the Mabee Foundation will give the last $100,000 of the YMCA's $1 million campaign, if and so long as the YMCA can raise the rest of the money before July, 2008.)

According to Brian Johnston, HMC CEO, the pledge shows the hospital's commitment to community members of all ages. “I see this contribution as part of our commitment to help the community while helping to provide the gymnastics program with an appropriate home,” Johnston said. He added that the donation will also go toward expanding the ability for adolescent and adults to have age-appropriate exercise equipment.

YMCA Gets $280,000 in DREAM Tax Credits
Published: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 C-T

Gov. Matt Blunt announced Tuesday afternoon that the Grand River Area Family YMCA has been approved for $280,000 in tax credits from the Neighborhood Assistance Program to help renovate and expand its existing facility. Chillicothe is one of Gov. Blunt's Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri (DREAM) communities. “Our DREAM initiative has delivered a remarkable influx of public and private investments to help communities like Chillicothe attract and retain jobs and improve its overall quality of life,” Gov. Blunt said. This assistance for the YMCA will help strengthen the community by supporting growth in programs that help both children and adults, the governor said. “I am pleased we were able to help move this initiative forward for Chillicothe.”

Missouri's 10 inaugural DREAM communities have received more than $200 million in total investment for housing, construction, renovation projects and infrastructure improvements. The public investment to date is $32 million. This public investment has created an unprecedented $174 million in private investment in DREAM communities. Private investment is a key for Missouri's DREAM communities to make real economic changes as envisioned by the governor.

The Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit program, administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, provides assistance to community-based organizations that enable them to implement community or neighborhood projects in the areas of community service, education, crime prevention, job training and physical revitalization.

Related News 02 04 08:

The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation, Inc., a Delaware non-profit corporation, with its office in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has issued a challenge grant in the amount of $100,000 to the Grand River Area Family YMCA. Under the terms of this grant, the Mabee Foundation will give the last $100,000 of the YMCA's $1 million campaign, if and so long as the YMCA can raise the rest of the money before July, 2008.

A capital campaign kickoff was held at the YMCA on Monday night, February 4, 2008. Julie McCoy is heading up the group which consists of team leaders and team members who will be contacting area residents and businesses soliciting donations. All cards are expected back by February 22, 2008.

PROPOSED LAYOUT FIRST FLOOR	PROPOSED LAYOUT SECOND FLOOR

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