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Palm Harbor YMCA Expansion Near Completion

Mark Schantz/SUNCOAST NEWS

Randy Nilsson, executive director of the Greater Palm Harbor YMCA Branch, said the almost $2 million expansion and remodeling will provided more area for working out or fitness classes.

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: June 20, 2008

PALM HARBOR - The YMCA of the Suncoast is putting a little extra muscle into its branch here, a nearly $2 million expansion that will include more fitness and exercise areas along with the latest in trendy workout equipment.

Randy McElwain Nilsson, executive director of the Greater Palm Harbor Branch YMCA, said the makeover has been exciting for members and staff who have watched the changes take place.

In the three years the local branch of the Clearwater-based YMCA of the Suncoast has been in operation, on 16th Street off Nebraska Avenue, so many families and individuals joined that the need to expand soon became evident.

As a result, every inch of space, including the hallways and lobby, have been used to offer classes, Nilsson said.

That is about to change.

"We are now going to be able to provide simultaneously running fitness and exercise classes for all generations," Nilsson said. "There will be much more room to work out and many more machines, so no one should have to wait to get started."

The first major change that visitors notice is a newly designed spacious entrance and lobby.

Other additions include two new fitness rooms and a combined meeting and exercise room.

In addition, the branch's main workout room, also known as the wellness center, is being expanded so more heavy-duty exercise equipment can be installed. This should reduce the wait to use the equipment, according to Nilsson.

The Palm Harbor YMCA tries to keep up with the latest exercise class trends, while also offering those that remain very popular with all age groups, Nilsson said.

Expanded workout and fitness areas and more of the latest equipment should attract more members, Nilsson said.

In addition, no changes are being made to the branch's two swimming pools but they will remain a major draw, she said.

The YMCA has an outdoor skate park, and a patron has donated money to add a children's playground later this year.

During these tough economic times, when people are looking at how they can cut back to make ends meet, people can still turn to the YMCA to meet their family's fitness needs, Nilsson said.

The YMCA never turns away anyone who can't pay to be a member, Nilsson noted. This scholarship assistance is costing about $90,000 this year, up about 40 percent over last year, she said.

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