| Author |
Message |
    
Dego Diva
Citizen
Username: Fmingione
Post Number: 674
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 11:15 am: |     |
As part of all the usual new year's resolutions, last night, I joined the Summit Connection. But not before accidentally stopping at the Summit YMCA, and finding out that I was at the wrong place. I took a look around anyway - nice facility! Two big pools, loads of treadmills and equipment - I mean this place looked brand spanking new and state of the art. After admiring it, I drove down the block to the Connection and looked around. Certainly a much older building, but quieter, less crowded, not a "muscle" jungle - much more my style, so I joined.
As I drove home, my pride at having taken this healthy step was overcome by anger that we don't have better work out options here in Maplewood. I can't believe that such a family-oriented community, with residents that certainly have the income to support a good facility, doesn't have a decent YMCA. I know that the Adult School has some good classes on hobbies, etc., but when it comes to fitness, the facilities are sub-par. An acquacize class I once took in the postage-stamp sized pool at the high school was a joke.
I'm not expecting some huge facility like Summit (let alone two options in one town!) but I'd settle for a small, clean place with a decent pool and a full day of classes. Is that too much to expect from a community that was rated one of the top in the country?
Rant over.
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Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 3730
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 11:25 am: | |
Agreeed. It's one of my dreams for a better Maplewood.
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Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 5451
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 11:39 am: | |
Single answer.
Lack of space. Where are you going to put two pools and a gym???
The Y in Wayne is amazing too, but that is simply a function of more square footage available. |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 3452
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 11:42 am: | |
Madison and Livingston also have great Y's... |
Earlster
Supporter
Username: Earlster
Post Number: 1425
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 11:46 am: | |
The Y in town is trying to expand, and the staff seems very dedicated to me. But I have to agree that it's not the greatest place, that's why I'm a member of the summit Y.  |
marian
Citizen
Username: Marian
Post Number: 770
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 11:53 am: | |
This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine too, Dego. We used to live in Montclair, which also has an amazing (newly renovated Y) with a beautiful pool and fantastic exercise classes...ARRGGGGGGG!!!!! |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 4289
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 12:31 pm: | |
if things work out, there could be a pool in our Y's future, but that's all I can say. |
maplewood fan
Citizen
Username: Mplwfan
Post Number: 252
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 12:37 pm: | |
Why not demolish the Betty White Studio and build a Y there? Joking aside, I too would like to see better facilities. My son took a swimming class at the local Y and they had to use the dingy pool at the High School. The locker rooms were scary and I told my kid to pee in the pool rather than use the bathrooms which looked liked they hadn't been cleaned since 1942. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 3731
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 1:08 pm: | |
Ffof, I heard that too. I'm sure all remember that whole issue last year about building on top of the current facility, with the Walgreens at the corner, etc.
At my Y in Springfield, Commerce Bank was there one day and one of the bank reps told me it was going to happen on/right off Valley.
I for one would be thrilled to have that kind of resource so close by. |
Zoesky1
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 1326
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 1:09 pm: | |
Summit is a much bigger town population-wise and commerce-wise than Maplewood, as are Montclair, Westfield and Livingston, all home to bigger Y's. Maybe the big YMCAs go where there are bigger downtown areas? |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 4760
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 2:59 pm: | |
No, there is no room in Maplewood, they are looking for space to open a large facility. |
Phenixrising
Citizen
Username: Phenixrising
Post Number: 1343
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 3:18 pm: | |
Hmmm… No room?
Well they sure found room to build those multi-million dollar homes up the hill in South Orange. Could've found some room near the soccer field before they built those high-priced rental units.
okay, rant over.
 |
Straw06
Supporter
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 6609
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 3:34 pm: | |
On the subject of the Y, the Y daycare center in town is a joke as well. Filthy facility.. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10172
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 3:40 pm: | |
How many of you have contributed to a building fund? Also, since SO doesn't have a YMCA the facility serves both towns which brings the population up to roughly that of Montclair, Livingston, etc. I believe it is called the South Mountain YMCA. |
Dr. Winston O'Boogie
Citizen
Username: Casey
Post Number: 1813
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 3:43 pm: | |
straw, your vendetta against the Y is pathetic. you should give it up, because such monomania makes you look like a petty, vindictive, frustrated little man.
or, if that's your goal, then keep it up |
Hoops
Citizen
Username: Hoops
Post Number: 685
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 3:50 pm: | |
It my wish that our Y was larger, had a regulation size gym and facilities to match. I doubt that I will see that in my lifetime but it is a wish.
All in all I second the comment about the personel at the Y. They are dedicated and work hard to make our kids experiences there worthwhile.
WIth such limited resources (even including using the high schools facilities when available) the Y does a tremendous job.
and maplefan - thats far more disgusting. So your kid should pee in the pool that others need to swim in? Yuck. |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2107
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 4:10 pm: | |
I thought little Straw went to the local Y for daycare? |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 3456
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 4:19 pm: | |
Maybe it could have been built on South Orange Ave by the Middle School? But since the Y is currently in Maplewood too bad they didn't think of relocating it to the other side of town where the Verizon Building is. Another place the Y could build is over on the old mini golf place. |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 2363
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 7:22 pm: | |
Yeah, but I bet some big box superstore has a lot more bucks to offer for the old mini golf place. It's not as if the Y can just go and say, hey we want your property, can you give us a serious discount? Nobody is giving these properties away. And for the land to be cheap enough it has to have other drawbacks, like being located right next to the rail line. Oh, right, that's where they are already.
That said, I would love a full-service Y.
|
beezer
Citizen
Username: 3girls
Post Number: 23
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 8:39 pm: | |
Like others, this is a huge pet peeve of mine as well. I used to take my kids for classes at our Y but can't deal with the dirty, worn out facilities the classes are in. The pool at the high school is so run down. The bathrooms are a complete disgrace. Even the gym facility and equipment in the builing off Jefferson Ave are so old and worn out. I was shocked the first time I went in there. The bathrooms there are awful too. Even if they can't do a pool right now, they really need to update the equipment, lighting and area they already have. |
Cleve Dark
Citizen
Username: Clevedark
Post Number: 212
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 11:02 pm: | |
Is a committe talking with the organization about expanding or renovating? If local residents haven't expressed interest or support for fundraising, the Y doesn't have much to go on.
Also, I can't name any benefactor type families in town who would bankroll a big project like this. Summit is crawling with them, hence two nice facilities right next door to each other. Maplewood doesn't seem to have as strong a civic fundraising tradition. Maybe everyone is tapped out by their taxes.
|
Robert Little
Citizen
Username: Boblittle
Post Number: 289
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 11:08 pm: | |
The current Y facility is primarily day care and preschool, which are excellent. The on-site gym is mainly to support the kiddies.
Off-site the Y uses the high school pool. It's regulation length but only four lanes. It was relined only last year, so the pool itself is very nice. |
Straw06
Supporter
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 6612
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 12:38 am: | |
"The current Y facility is primarily day care and preschool, which are excellent."
right, and the Pope is Jewish.
|
Tom Kerns
Supporter
Username: Tom_kerns
Post Number: 304
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 9:32 am: | |
Getting back to the subject of a full service Y, Cleve is correct regarding support from the community at large. I believe that a number of years ago the South Mountain Y was to receive capital from the Greater YMCA (county? state?, not sure) for expansion. When they went to their members to see what they should expand the overwhelming response, from what I am told, was to invest in a child-care facility and not a gym or pool. However, last year we received a survey asking us to select what we would desire if they were to expand again. Here's hoping that's a sign of good things to come.
Two of my daughters compete on the Y's Girls Gymnastics team (if your interested they could use some good athletes) and we only host one home meet because of the size of our gym. Our gym can't even come close to comparing with the Y's at Madison and Scotch Plains. That said, however, this it what the members wanted in the past.
Here's hoping
TK |
maplewood fan
Citizen
Username: Mplwfan
Post Number: 253
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 9:48 am: | |
Hoops don't be such a stick in the mud - of course I didn't tell my kid to pee in the pool. He just holds it in for two hours like all the other kids in the pool (and for that matter, I'm sure there aren't any adults who have ever pee'd in the pool). |
Hoops
Citizen
Username: Hoops
Post Number: 688
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 10:26 am: | |
Still it is disgusting. |
Cleve Dark
Citizen
Username: Clevedark
Post Number: 215
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 5, 2006 - 12:29 pm: | |
I'll bet the daycare center has been a profit center for the Y organization for years. It's probably time to invest some time and money on more amenities for the community (with the support of the community, of course). |
sk8mom
Citizen
Username: Sk8mom
Post Number: 400
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 1:53 pm: | |
I cannot imagine that the daycare center has been a money-maker for the Y.
Before you spread baseless and mean-spirited speculations, why don't you examine the Y's annual reports, or call or email the Executive Director, Paul Kieltyka, at pkieltyka@metroymcas.org or 973-762-4145.
I'm sure Paul would also be happy to discuss the facilities issue and would welcome community volunteers who are willing to invest time and/or money in such a project.
Or, you can just complain on a message board. |
juju's petals
Citizen
Username: Jujus_petals
Post Number: 207
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 2:27 pm: | |
Profit center? Uh, last time I checked all YMCAs were non-profits. . . . real, social service non-profits. |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 2369
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 2:43 pm: | |
Sometimes non-profits (such as hospitals) have a profit-making arm that allows the non-profit side to function by providing a reasonable source/amount of income that the non-profit itself cannot generate because of the type of service it provides or because of other constraints. Also there are distinctions between non-profits and not-for-profits. |
shestheone
Citizen
Username: Shestheone
Post Number: 215
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 2:45 pm: | |
there is a difference between non-profits and not-for-profit.
the ymca could have millions of $$ in the bank to be invested back into any one of their facilities. this money would not be considered profit. |
Cleve Dark
Citizen
Username: Clevedark
Post Number: 221
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 2:48 pm: | |
Yes, they are, but they do make money and plow it into scholarships and facilities and operating funds. I think that more profitable Ys help keep less profitable Ys afloat. I don't know what the formula is for spending excess profits made at a particular location, but there is profit and loss made at centers.
I have a friend who worked at a Y in CA for years and she explained it to me. She wasn't the executive director, but she did work there in some professional capacity, and is pretty with it, so I think she probably has a sensible understanding of the general finances and organization. |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1120
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 10:58 pm: | |
A new "Y" would be perfect in that yellow brick empty Supermarket across the street from the Blue Moon Diner! How many more years is that place going to remain empty? Or across from Bunny's...the razed lot with the chain link fence around it? |
Straw06
Supporter
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 6629
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 7, 2006 - 1:47 am: | |
I would avoid calling Paul as SK8MOM suggests. You'll need to go above him if you want answers. |
Thespis
Citizen
Username: Thespis6
Post Number: 26
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, January 7, 2006 - 10:12 am: | |
I think that we would all love to have a full facility Y in our town! I agree with sk8mom that you should contact someone at the Y instead of speculating on what's going on. And be sure to check out their website at http://metroymcas.org/html/southmountain.cfm
to see all of the wonderful things that they currently do and plan to do for our community. |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1062
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 9:18 pm: | |
How about that burnt down plot of land across the street from the Columbia HS. No ones doing anything with it for years now. Looks like a good place for a new facility to me. |
Cleve Dark
Citizen
Username: Clevedark
Post Number: 228
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 9, 2006 - 2:20 pm: | |
I did not intend to spread mean spirited gossip about the Y. And yes, a little while after posting my Friday afternoon musings on profits from the day care center, I did have an uneasy feeling that it might be read to mean that the Y is behaving badly.
No harm intended. They're a great organization.
|
Flying_char
Citizen
Username: Flying_char
Post Number: 86
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 10:20 pm: | |
A new "Y" would be absolutely Great!
I was a member of one in Tarrytown, NY back in the days... and it was great to be able to work out, play b-ball in the gym and jump in the pool - all in the same building.
Seems like there is plenty of space available in town.
Now the price has to be right. |
sarinka
Citizen
Username: Sarinka
Post Number: 44
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 10:42 pm: | |
I love the Y and it has been a huge factor in why we love maplewood. They would love to expand, and have plans, but there are many hurdles to cross. Paul and his team do a terrific job and would love that a full-service Y becomes reality. I will be supporting them in every way I can, and hope others will do the same. |
dougw
Citizen
Username: Dougw
Post Number: 675
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 9:08 am: | |
It would be great to have a first rate YMCA in Maplewood. However - Building a new YMCA would cost at least $15 million (100,000sf x $150psf). I doubt the Metro YMCA of the Oranges has anything set aside for this. Other Y's have taken years of organized and dedicated effort to raise this much.
Please call the Y and ask how you can help. |
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