58,000-square-foot facility promotes fitness
By John Koski
CORRESPONDENT
The Mukwonago YMCA officially opened its doors at 5 a.m. Tuesday morning to area residents eager to complete an hour or so of exercise before beginning the rest of their day.
“We had people coming in non-stop,” said Geoff Mertens, executive director. “We’re open 17 hours a day, so people can come here whenever it’s convenient for them.”
At the facility’s grand opening ribbon cutting later that day, Mertens commented, “This day is the culmination of eight years of a lot of hard work by many people in the community – all volunteers – who had this vision long before I was in the picture. They made this happen through hard work, fundraising and promoting the YMCA.”
More than 800 donors raised nearly $10 million to construct the 58,000-square foot facility. The final cost is estimated at $12.7 million.
The Mukwonago YMCA Board of Directors broke ground on the center in September 2011, following a five-year fundraising campaign.
“I am so proud of the effort of those volunteers,” Mertens continued, “and what they did because they had a vision of a place the community could call home. I’m grateful for the people in this community – the donors and the believers. Without them we wouldn’t be here today.
“Some of our key donors,” Mertens said, “were the McAdams and Greenwald families. Without their lead gifts this facility would not have happened.”
The John and Lorraine McAdams family donated $3 million during the campaign and the D.N. Greenwald family provided 8-acres of highly visible land on East Wolf Run for the center.
Mertens went on to emphasize that the YMCA is for everybody.
“It’s not about your religion, beliefs, race or income,” he said. “None of that matters. We are here for everybody and we’re here to help everybody.”
The new YMCA has programs for all ages and is dedicated to building healthy, confident, connected and secure children, adults, senior citizens, families and communities. The mission of YMCA it to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
Programs include child care, dance, gymnastics, preschool, swim lessons, teen programs, youth sports programs, summer day camp, parties, active older adults wellness, personal training, group exercise, equipment orientations, family activities and social responsibility.
Registrations are currently being accepted for fall sessions that run from Sept. 24 to Nov. 4 and Nov. 5 to Dec. 23.
Although the YMCA is located in Mukwonago it also serves the communities of Big Bend, Eagle, East Troy, Muskego, North Prairie, Vernon, Waterford, Wales and southwest Waukesha.
Hours of operation are Monday to Friday 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Beginning Nov. 1, Saturday and Sunday hours will be extended to 7 p.m.
The Mukwonago YMCA is located at 245 East Wolf Run (across from Walmart). For more information, or to register, become a member, make a donation or volunteer, call (262) 542-2557 or visit mukwonagoymca.org.
Something for everyone
The new facility has an impressive array of features:
• A lap pool with four 25-yard lap lanes
• A recreational pool with zero-depth entry, water slide and therapeutic current channel, among other amenities.
• An indoor running/walking track
• A whirlpool
• Five locker rooms (two youth, two adult and one family)
• A gymnasium with seven basketball nets and two volleyball courts
• An 8,000-square-foot fitness center with 58 cardiovascular exercise machines such as treadmills, elliptical trainers, stationary bicycles, and stair climbers. The fitness center also contains strength and free-weight equipment as well as personal training space.
• A 1,900-square-foot child watch area that enables children ages 7 and younger to be safely cared for while their parents participate in other activities.
• Three group exercise studios that feature cycling, yoga, Pilates, Zumba, strength, core, step, suspension training, Tae Kwon Do, youth movement, youth dance, SilverSneakers for older adults and more.
• A member lounge
• A senior/teen room where seniors can socialize, watch television or play cards during the day and teens and pre-teens can hang out and do homework during after-school hours.
• A community meeting room
i think in a way it’s not fare to the people from Mukwonago ,Vernon and east troy and big bend..That a part of is welcome to come to the ymca..Because they have 2 gyms in Waukesha and there is one in Broookfield..