Foglia Y shows off expansion

Lake Zurich community leaders and others gathered Friday to celebrate the official debut of Foglia YMCA's latest construction project.

Foglia's gymnasium expansion, which began last April, features a new basketball court with six additional hoops, a climbing wall, a ropes course and two 1,000-square-foot multipurpose classroom areas.

YMCA officials said the rooms will be suitable as rental space for birthday parties or other celebrations, children's program, preschool enrichment offerings and adult group fitness classes.

With the 9,000-square-foot expansion, Foglia has doubled the gym space in an effort to provide for what officials say are growing community needs.

Foglia Executive Director Anthony Janca said the public began using the new section after a soft opening Jan. 5.

He said it turned out to be a busy Monday morning and afternoon at the Y, with about 200 children and parents, because Lake Zurich Unit District 95 postponed classes due to the cold.

"Feedback has been fantastic," Janca said. "The nice thing is, (the addition) allows us to expand our reach and better serve the community."

Among those at the grand opening were North Barrington philanthropist Vince Foglia and his wife, Pat, who have been major donors to the Lake Zurich Y that carries the family name.

The Foglias provided an unspecified amount of money for the latest expansion.

"I'm so pleased to have my name on this place. It was a tough deal for my grandson who went to school in the Lake Zurich school district, because the kids were all asking him if his grandfather owned the YMCA. He said a tough time explaining it," said Vince Foglia, who drew laughs from the crowd.

Lake Zurich Mayor Thomas Poynton praised the Foglia YMCA for a policy of not turning anyone away who can't afford to pay. He said Foglia awards about $300,000 in scholarships annually.

Construction began last April after the Lake Zurich village board approved the addition to the structure at 1025 Old McHenry Road.

Foglia received a major addition in 2003, when an aquatic center debuted. The 31,000-square-foot expansion included two swimming pools and locker rooms for men, women and families.

Open since May 2000, Foglia was built for roughly $9 million obtained from private donations.