Fry Family YMCA opens doors to new addition
Renovations are nothing new to Naperville’s Fry Family YMCA, but the latest round is expected to extend the facility’s life by several years.
YMCA officials and community leaders cut the ribbon Friday to officially open a 5,300-square-foot addition featuring a 12-locker and private family shower locker room, two preschool classrooms, a viewing area in front of the pool, and an expanded parking lot.
“We like to think we’ve added 5,300 square feet of community and family fun that will be utilized for years to come,” said Richard Malone, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. “This has been a long time coming.”
Executive Director Judy Ellertson said the new family locker room is an answer to requests from families throughout the years.
“To offer families more privacy, we now have a family locker room that parents and young children can use which is housed in our new Early Childhood Development Center, which also consists of two classrooms, bathrooms and a warming kitchen,” Ellertson said.
The new early childhood development space will be licensed for the 2013-14 school year.
“Our plans for the prekindergarten and kindergarten after-school programs we’ll be able to offer in this space include picking up the children from four area schools and bringing them back to our Y, where they’ll receive a hot catered lunch,” Ellertson said. “The afternoon will include enrichment time, swim lessons once a week, music, arts and gym time. After school and on weekends, we will use the classrooms for painting classes and birthday parties.”
The new family lounge also provides a better view of the pool from a larger area of the facility.
Naperville resident Janelle Edwards was visiting the facility with her 7-year-old son Jake Friday afternoon and said she was aware of the changes.
“I think it’s great, especially for young families,” she said. “They’ve got the adult activities covered with the ball courts and exercise facility, but I think this just helps get the message out that whole families can find things to do here.”
To celebrate, the YMCA is offering a special $0 joiner fee from through March 4 to any new member who wants to become a part of the Fry Family YMCA.