This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Nearly 3 Years in the Making, YMCA Cuts Ribbon on New Pool, Renovation

Administrators and volunteers celebrated and breathed sighs of relief Saturday.

The celebrated the grand opening of its newly expanded facility Saturday afternoon with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that featured remarks from Assemblywoman Linda Stender, D-Scotch Plains and Scotch Plains Mayor Nancy Malool.

FSPY director Karin Dreixler, joined at the ceremony by trustees chairman Tom Luciano and board of directors president Bob Evans, accepted honorary resolutions from the Fanwood, Scotch Plains and Clark municipal councils, which were presented by Malool and Fanwood Councilwoman Kathy Mitchell. Malool also proclaimed June 2011 “YMCA Month” in Scotch Plains. 

Luciano offered remarks that recounted the history of the FSPY, which opened in 1947, and credited generations of volunteers who helped the community center thrive. 

Find out what's happening in Scotch Plains-Fanwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Why does our town now have such a great Y asset?” he said. “Give thanks to the keepers of the flame, all those volunteers that had the grand vision of building a YMCA that would make this a great town to raise a family in.” 

Dreixler, who spoke last, thanked the architects at Cornerstone Architectural Group, which designed the facility, and laughed as she presented them with “I Survived…” T-shirts. The architects broke ground at FSPY in October 2008.

Find out what's happening in Scotch Plains-Fanwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Donna and Steve Gartner, winners of the center’s capitol campaign, were welcomed to the main entrance of the new building and standing beside Karin Dreixler, Tom Luciano and Bob Evans, Donna Gartner cut the red ribbon. The complex’s biggest addition is a 25-yard pool and natatorium, dedicated by the Gartner family to the center’s aquatic staff, coaches and teachers.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, guests were invited to tour the newly renovated facility. Trustee Anne Flynn said that she was excited to finally see the completed additions and renovations. “I’m very proud,” said Flynn. “[The YMCA] helped raise our son. He started out here when he was 14 weeks old, and he just graduated college.”

“In a big sense,” Luciano said as he surveyed the new pool, “it is almost reaching a culmination of a vision that began 60 years ago….Look at how many volunteers have given a lifetime of service. This is a Y that is all about families and that’s why it is so successful.” 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?