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Randy Brown
Patrons to the Downtown Family YMCA are experiencing the benefits of $5.1 million in renovations, including a larger wellness center and other improvements designed to provide more offerings and make better use of the Sixth Street facility.
Work at the downtown branch is slated to finish by the end of April and is part of about $11 million in renovation expenditures over the last year and a half at that location as well as at the Hamilton Family YMCA and Cleveland Family YMCA, officials said.
“What we’ve been trying to do is really try to put back into the community,” said Randy Brown, YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga president and chief executive. “As the community’s needs have changed especially around health issues ... the YMCA felt like it was critical that we start looking at our facilities.”
Although no additional square footage is being added to the downtown branch, Mr. Brown said it will have a better design and will allow for more space to be used.
Bill Rush, the downtown branch’s executive, said the updated facility will encourage small group activities and patron interaction.
“In the design it was created to make it a real user-friendly space,” he said.
At the Hamilton Family YMCA, one of the additions is a Kids’ Adventure Center, which the organization bills as a “four-level indoor play structure.” Mr. Brown said the feature is designed to encourage parents to play with their children.
“It’s really one of those centers that’s really built to get people involved, I mean not just sitting around watching kids play but get in there and do some things with your kids,” Mr. Brown said.
DOWNTOWN RENOVATIONS
About $5.1 million in facility improvements at the Downtown Family YMCA includes the following additions:
* More group exercise studios
* Virtual spin studio
* Larger wellness center
* New meeting rooms
Source: YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga
