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YMCA expanding horizons
Another 25,000 square feet will be added to the existing 6,500 square foot building off of Frankstown Road, which has made do with a few classrooms, offices, and a lower level activity room for games like floor hockey for decades.
The addition will include a gymnasium, fitness room and lockers, a child care center, teen room and offices on the 7.5 acres owned by the East Communities YMCA. The parking lot will also be expanded from the current 45 spaces to 120.
Officials with the YMCA are still tight-lipped about their plans, following a fund-raising effort that has gone on for years.
But the proposal goes before the Penn Hills planning commission tonight as a request for conditional use and site plan approval. The land in question is zoned residential and business.
In Penn Hills, recreational facilities are permitted in residential areas with the approval of council.
The municipality already has discussed lending its support to the project by waiving all fees related to permits and inspections.
"It's a way to help without reaching into our pocket and writing a check," said Penn Hills Planning and Economic Development Director Howard Davidson, estimating that the fee waiver could save the YMCA anywhere from $10,000 to $12,000.
Further down the road, YMCA officials hope to add a pool in Penn Hills. Swimming lessons, meanwhile, will continue to be held at other venues including the pools at Linton Middle School and the Comfort Inn.
Becky Linsenbigler of Wilkins Township has her 4-year-old daughter Abbey enrolled in the Penn Hills YMCA preschool program.
She took her to the Wilmerding YMCA for her swim lessons. This summer, Abbey is signed up for tee-ball, which will have to be moved from the fields behind the Penn Hills YMCA because of the construction.
Not that Linsenbigler minds the inconvenience.
"I'm glad to see they're going ahead with the work," she said.
Tina DiCroce's son Michael turns 5 next month and has attended the Penn Hills YMCA preschool for three years.
"He's going to be starting kindergarten in the fall, but we would probably use the expanded facilities more in the future," DiCroce said.
Timothy Terry Sr. of Verona, whose 5-year-old son ialso is enrolled in the YMCA preschool, is interested in seeing the refurbished fitness room.
"Maybe if they added a bigger weight room, I might come here to work out, because it would probably be cheaper than the private club I go to now," Terry said.
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