YMCA OUTDOORS Families to get in the swim

"It's not the building. It's not the pool. It's the YMCA."
Tom Lodge
Chairman, YMCA board of trustees
The facility has attracted 10,000 new members since September.
By VANESSA SCHUTZ
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Richard Hahn, independent marketing consultant for the YMCA, stood on the pool deck overlooking a crowd of people sweltering from the sun's heat.
"I remember when we opened this facility in September and everyone breathed a sigh of relief -- finally, we're done," Hahn said Wednesday.
But Ken Rudge, chief executive officer and president of the YMCA of Youngstown, and many others were just getting started.
And now they have finished a $1.1 million Outdoor Aquatic Complex just in time for the summer season, completing the second phase of construction at the D.D. & amp; Velma Davis Family YMCA Branch on McClurg Road.
The total cost includes the pool complex and an additional 130-car parking lot. Rudge hopes to maximize the facility's usage to pay back the funds borrowed for the project.
The outdoor complex has a six-lane Olympic-size swimming pool with diving area, in addition to a family fun center complete with a toddler area, three sliding boards and eight water toys. Between the two areas, up to seven lifeguards will be on duty.
Other details
This outside project was constructed in addition to the 75-foot lap pool, recreational pool, warm water therapy pool and whirlpool indoors.
Together, the new outdoor and indoor YMCA pools create one of the largest aquatic complexes in the tri-state area, requiring more than 320,000 gallons of water, Rudge said.
The 80,000-square-foot facility has attracted 10,000 new members since its opening in September. Hopes are the 20,000-square-foot addition will attract even more to the facility built on the Boardman campus of Humility of Mary Health Partners, which joined with the YMCA on the project.
What makes this facility different from swim clubs in the surrounding communities in a five-mile radius?
"It's not the building. It's not the pool. It's the YMCA," said Tom Lodge, chairman of the board of trustees. "What the YMCA is most similar to and what it's about is the homes, the families and the churches."
Rudge said there will be another phase of construction intended to enhance the water complex, including a picnic area, pavilion, outdoor restroom facilities and basketball and sand volleyball courts.
Mostly families
The Davis YMCA Branch has not deterred use of the downtown Youngstown facility on North Champion Street, Rudge said.
"We are at an all-time record with number of members we have downtown," Rudge said. "The biggest percentage of people joining are families."
YMCA officials said members will be permitted to use either facility.
Marykae Bunyoff, membership director, said the cost of a membership for the Boardman facility is the same as membership rates for the downtown facility, which include student, adult and family rates.
Tom Grantonic, director of the Davis branch, anticipates three months of poolside fun and activity.
"We have our inspection to go through yet," Grantonic said, adding he is awaiting approval from a routine state inspection.
If given the thumbs up, the outdoor pool was scheduled to open today.
vschutz@vindy.com