Civic Spotlight

YMCA expansion allows it to grow
for the future

This page honors local organizations that help the community and its residents improve their lives. Each quarter a new organization will be honored.

This quarter Haverhill Bank honors: YMCA

After more than a century of serving the citizens of Haverhill, The Haverhill YMCA has a new look and a new name.

But, the mission stays the same. The Y continues to be committed to providing an opportunity to develop a healthy mind, body and spirit.

Here, it is not just how many people join the Y that matters, but how many continue to belong year after year. “Retention is what matters most,” said Gregg Thompson, executive director.

A $7.5 million renovation and expansion of the more than 50 year old Winter Street building has just been completed. The capital campaign was called Strengthening Kids, Families and Haverhill.

On Jan. 1, 2006, the 106-year-old Haverhill YMCA merged with the YMCA of the North Shore The merger also meant a name change from the Northeast Family YMCA to the Haverhill YMCA.

Climbing Wall

“For the long term growth, the merger was necessary. This offers the opportunity for a development staff, marketing department, human resources and accounting services. Before, it was just me,” said Thompson.

An important part of the merger was the improvement of online services. Without the resources of the larger North Shore Y, offering online registration and other services would have been difficult and costly.

“We were just too small to be able to provide those services adequately,” said Thompson.

The dark and dreary entrance is gone. In its place, a large and bright gathering room awaits visitors just inside the lobby. Just beyond this gathering room is the spacious new fitness center, complete with the latest in exercise and resistance equipment.

Before
After

The Y renovation benefited from Thompson’s more than 20 years of experience working at various Ys around the country.

“I deliberately wanted this space left open for folks to gather and chat,” said Thompson, of the comfortable area with welcoming chairs, tables and vending machines. It is here that some of the ladies from an exercise class gathered to knit afghans for the Emmaus House. It is here that parents drop their children off for teen night and other fun activities.

The structure of the pool remains the same, but new ventilation makes it more comfortable for everyone to use and enjoy. The popular rock climbing gym is a new room. This allows for higher and more challenging climbs. And, young gymnasts will find all new equipment to practice and learn new skills on.

As the father of two daughters, Thompson understands how challenging locker rooms can be for young families, where a mom or a dad may be bringing boys or girls in to change. He still has memories of bringing his daughters to the pool as young children with only the men’s locker room available to help them change. He ensured the newly renovated Y offers a family locker room.

“This has been a bonus for older couples. A husband who was recovering came to use the pool for exercise classes. His wife was able to go into the locker room with him to help him change,” said Thompson.

A new elevator system and new lifts to the pool area makes the entire building handicapped accessible as well.

And, in keeping with its original mission to provide housing, the YMCA expanded its rooms upstairs from 34 to 52.

“It was very important to the board to keep the commitment to provide housing,” said Thompson. A combination of federal, state and city dollars helped pay for the new and improved housing.

The new rooms are more spacious than ever. The two top floors of the Winter Street building are for housing. Each room offers a full bath, small refrigerator, microwave, closet and single bed. The layout is reminiscent of a college dorm.

On each floor, there is a full-service coin operated laundry, full kitchen with stove and microwave, and a gathering room with television. Some of the rooms are set aside for Section Eight housing. The last of the rooms was just rented out and a waiting list will be started.

“The residents now have their own entrance, which is better for them and for the members,” said Thompson. Soon, additional security will be added to the elevators so no one but the residents are allowed on the top two floors.

The renovation also allowed the Y to include a new deck for the residents to enjoy on sunny days. The corner gathering room offers a spectacular view of the Merrimack River.

“This is no longer just transitional housing. The Y used to be a place that when you came to town, you would rent a room for a week, while you tried to figure what you wanted to do. This is more permanent,” said Thompson.

Four of the units were also designed as handicapped accessible and constructed to accommodate wheelchairs.

With room to grow, the Y is also expanding its after school childcare program. Right now, babysitting services for members’ children shares the same space as the after school childcare program. This limits when babysitting can be offered.

“It doesn’t really work because of the age differences between the two groups. One is really young children and the other is school aged,” Thompson said. “There is a big demand for after school care and enrolling children at the Y offers the advantage of keeping the kids busy and active.’’

While government money helped pay for the new housing, it was the donations of businesses like Haverhill Bank that helped complete the renovations.

“The Haverhill Y is a very important resource for the community,” said Thomas R. Faulkner, president of the Haverhill Bank. “That is why Haverhill Bank was happy to contribute to the renovation fund.”

As a long time YMCA board member and president of the Trustees of the Haverhill YMCA, Faulkner also played an active role in helping to raise money along with working on the merger.

“The board at one point had talked about possibly moving to another part of Haverhill, before construction began. The decision was made to stay downtown because of its central location,” said Thompson.