The new Grand Traverse Bay YMCA on West Silver Lake Road opens Mon.,
Sept. 22, at 5:30am, with the first fitness class kicking off at 6am.
While the tennis courts, health & fitness center, learn to swim pool
and hot tub are ready to go, the eight-lane competitive swim pool will
not be complete until late October or early November, says Board
President Lynn Schultz.
The old Y facility on the Boardman River will remain open for
basketball, pickleball and other court sports as will the Y facility on
Woodmere, which houses its gymnastics program and childcare.
Schultz says membership at the new Y is at 1,321, exceeding the board goal of 1,150 by opening day.
The search for a new leader at the facility is also underway, with the
first search committee meeting held earlier this week. The board parted
ways with longtime CEO Tom Van Deinse in early August. Schultz said the
committee expects a new executive director to be in place within six
months.
Earlier this month, some members upset about Van Deinse's departure
were circulating petitions to require a board meeting with the general
membership but Schultz says as of this week the board has not been
presented with any such petition or approached about it. It is, however,
meeting soon with a subgroup of the membership, but Schultz says that
is a private meeting.
The long-awaited and delayed opening of the new Y's doors also marks
the beginning of fundraising for Phase 2 of the project – a gym and
indoor running track for which the organization needs to raise $3
million.
