New YMCA grows up fast
CRANBERRY TWP — The population of the township is not the only thing growing by leaps and bounds.
The Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA has experienced phenomenal membership growth in the nine months since it opened its doors in November. The 80,000-square-foot facility off Route 19 has seen more than a 10-fold increase in its membership.
Dave Hilliard, executive director, said there are 10,823 members.
"It's fantastic," he said.
The new facility replaced the former Southwest Butler County YMCA, which had 5,000 square feet of leased space in Jackson Township and a mere 900 members.
At the grand opening in January, Schneider YMCAofficials reported about 6,000 members.
Larry Garvin, president and CEO of the Butler County Family YMCA, is not surprised the Schneider YMCA has outgrown its parent facility.
"No matter what type of services are offered in that southwestern Butler corridor, they seem to be well received," he said.
Successful YMCAs emulate their communities, he said. The steady growth and popularity of the Schneider YMCA is a reflection of the township that has a population that continues to grow year after year.
The aquatic program, which features swim lessons, scuba and group water fitness sessions, is one of the most popular, said Jason Groves, senior physical director.More than 600 children participated in the first cycle of youth swim lessons, which began in January."People have been very receptive to the lessons; it's one of our biggest successes," Groves said. "It's very exciting to meet the need we knew was there."The former facility did not have an aquatic program, so the large initial enrollment was a "huge undertaking" for him and aquatic director Jessica Juda."I think people have been pretty pleased with the programming side of things and that we're growing receptive to that change and that need," he said. "That's what we're here for."Groves said when the new YMCA opened, he had no plans to explore program expansion until six months or more of operation.But the steady membership increase and participants' overwhelming enthusiasm has prompted him to speed up that process."At the old facility, most of our focus was on youth programming because we could do that out in the community and find space for it," he said."Now we're able to accommodate for adults and seniors programmatically, and also for pre-kindergarten and teenagers. We're more than capable of accommodating and offering that kind of programming."Hilliard said administrators are conscious of member usage."We know we are going to have to expand," he said. "When we do that has yet to be determined."The facility includes the indoor aquatic center, chapel, gymnasium, climbing wall, fitness center, group exercise and spinning studios, large indoor track, recreation center, children's' play place and a community meeting room.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Butler County is housed there, along with 12,000 square feet occupied by the Butler Health System for its on-site medical services like laboratory testing and X-ray services, physician offices, CT scans, MRI and ultrasound testing and orthopedics, cardiology and obstetrics and gynecology."Every amount of space built right now is being utilized," Garvin said.The second phase could add about another 20,000 square feet and could include an outdoor swimming pool, space outside for a pavilion, playground and outdoor courts and additional indoor community meeting rooms, which are used heavily by church and youth groups and service clubs, Hilliard said.Garvin said YMCA officials in about another year will have a better idea of what services are needed or desired. Meanwhile, there are no plans to limit new memberships.The expanding membership in Cranberry exceeds that of the Butler County Family YMCA on North Washington Street, which has 7,506 members.The Baierl Family YMCA on Nicholson Road in Sewickley, Allegheny County, which opened in May 2006, refused to divulge its membership.
<B>WHAT: </B>Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA<B>WHEN OPEN: </B>5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Sundays<B>WHERE: </B>2001 Ehrman Road, Suite 100, Cranberry TownshipCOST:Individuals ages 18 and older: $600 annually; Family: $888 annually; Youths, ages 6 to 18 and still in high school: $192 annually; one day cost: $5; AWAY (members of another YMCA): $5<B>INFO: </B>724-452-9122 or visit www.bcfymca.org/SouthwestButlerYMCAprogram highlights for fall 2007• <B>CYCLE 6 REGISTRATION: </B>Aug. 27 to Sept. 8 for members and Sept. 3 to 8 for nonmembers.• <B>AQUATIC: </B>Swim lessons for children and parents, youth, teens and adults as well as scubaand group water fitness classes. For information, call 724-452-9122.• <B>PRESCHOOL AND YOUTH SPORTS: </B>Programs include basketball, football, volleyball and indoor soccer. Fees range from $20 to $50 for members and $50 to $100 for nonmembers.• <B>TEEN AND ADULTS PORTS: </B>Programs include basketball, volleyball and karate. Fees range from $30 to $50 for members and $60 to $100 for nonmembers.• <B>YOUTH AND FAMILY: </B>Programs include gym jamboree, youth and government and circle of friends for children with special needs. Fees range from $10 to $45 for members and $25 to $75 for nonmembers.• <B>HEALTH AND FITNESS: </B>Programs include yoga, Pilates, spinning, weight training, personal training, Silver Sneakers and group exercise classes. Fees range from $16 to $32 for members and $32 to $64 for nonmembers.• <B>WHOLE HEALTH:</B> Programs include parenting style, lamaze, diabetes management, identity theft and Eat Well for Life. Some programs are free, others require registration through Butler Memorial Hospital. Afew are covered by insurance providers. For information, call 724-452-9122.
