| For the 20-plus years
that we have been living in Branford, I’ve been hearing
about the possibility of a town pool of some kind. I remained
hopeful at first, but as time wore on and one false rumor
followed another, I made whatever arrangements I could for
summer swims and winter water aerobics classes.
In case you haven’t seen or heard, let me tell you
that the Shoreline’s state-of-the-art, drop-dead gorgeous,
new YMCA with two pools is indeed a reality. Last week,
I took a hard-hat tour of the building (and you can, too,
on Saturdays for the rest of March and the first Saturday
in April from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.). The new Y, which will
serve towns from East Haven to Madison, is located at 628
East Main St. in Branford.
The Y is being constructed in two stages. Phase One, which
will open this summer, consists of 35,000 square feet and
encompasses the two beautiful pools, a teen/senior center,
fitness area and walking promenade. Phase Two, with an additional
20,000 square feet of space to house a large dance and aerobic
studio and a gymnasium, will be built when the remaining
$3.5 million is raised.
The cost of Phase One was $12 million, of which $9.2 million
was raised through donations and the remaining $3 million
financed through Guilford Savings Bank. I was so excited
by what I saw, although I already was a donor, that I signed
up on the spot as a charter member.
You will come into the new Y via a spacious entrance that
is warm and welcoming with comfortable lounge chairs. From
there, you might decide to use the exercise bikes, treadmills
or cardio machines in the exercise area, where a fitness
instructor is available, or even a personal trainer if you
wish to pay for special, individualized help. Meanwhile,
your children are enjoying games or story time in the free
child-watch area.
After exercising, you could swim laps or take a water aerobics
class. The aquatic pool is especially senior-friendly with
a “walk-in” ramp and warm, 85-degree water.
The second pool is kept at a slightly cooler temperature,
suitable for lap swimming or intense water aerobics.
You will be overseen by lifeguards and the aquatic director
whose all-glass office overlooks both pools. After showering
and changing in the men’s, women’s or family
changing rooms, you could try a yoga or zoomba class. If
you are ready to relax, there is Wii with a large-screen
television. Or perhaps you would like to try your hand at
a game of pool.
The multipurpose room will be used for senior activities
in the morning and as a teen center in the afternoon. As
a special boon to working parents, there will be a fee-based,
full-service day-care center on the premises. Another thoughtful
feature is that the YMCA will be open when the schools have
snow days, so that children of all ages will have a safe,
fun place to go.
You may well wonder, after so many years, how did this
very needed community facility finally become a reality?
Although most of us didn’t know it, the Y has been
in the area for 40 years ... a well-kept secret with a tiny
staff, hidden away in various rented, temporary locations.
Eventually, in the mid-1990s, Charles Havrda and others
on the Board of Managers got serious about building a facility
and intensified the search for suitable property. The town
of Branford was very helpful in that search, and one of
the parcels owned by the Cooke family was suggested. Hilltop
Orchards, owned by the Cookes, donated 14 of the 24 acres.
Additional land was acquired, and Doug Shaw, the executive
director, was hired in 2003. Many of the original Y staff
have been maintained. The entire building was constructed
in such a way as to make it as “green” as possible,
and local companies such as OR&L Builders and AKV architects
were used.
This community facility deserves everyone’s support.
In addition to still-needed donations, volunteers are needed.
to help with mailings and sign-ups or running programs.
For more information, go to www.soundviewymca.org
or call 203-481-9622.
Jean Cherni is founder of Senior
Living Solutions, a retirement advisory service. Contact
her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds, Branford
06405.
H. Pearce Company REALTORS®
is a full-service real estate company with more than 100
agents and branch offices in greater New Haven and the Shoreline.
Corporate and & Commercial offices are located in North
Haven, where the company was founded in 1958. All listings
can be found in color on the web at: www.hpearce.com. |
