Pocono Family YMCA expansion: What it means for the swim program
The Pocono Family YMCA expansion is set to more than double its aquatic center and grow the swim programs.
The proposed 5,600-square-foot aquatic center is going in same spot as the current 2,400-square-foot center, and expanding toward the back side and onto the Dunkin' property.
The Dunkin' will be demolished as part of the expansion, with a new location coming farther west on Main Street.
More: New Dunkin' under construction in Stroudsburg as YMCA plans expansion
"The new aquatic center with a pool, more than doubled in size, is a big highlight in our expansion," said Scott Peckins, president and CEO of the Pocono Family YMCA.
Mike Wolbert, the swim team director at the Pocono Family YMCA, is ecstatic over the expansion and upgrade of the pool facilities. He has been working with the swim program in the 70-year-old building since 1991.
The pool is proposed to expand from its current 20 yards and three lanes to a standard competition size pool of 25 yards and six lanes. The center will no longer have a hot tub, but it will have a larger and upgraded dry-heat sauna room.
Wolbert said there are over 220 kids currently enrolled in swim lessons and he expects that to double once the new facility is ready. They also use local park pools during the summer, where he estimates they provide lessons for another 100 kids. In all, the YMCA teaches approximately 1,000 kids a year.
"The big thing is lessons, we want to really get the lessons up," said Wolbert.
The YMCA also has a competitive swim program that sent nine kids to YMCA Nationals recently, with three earning top-24 finishes, Wolbert said. "So, it's very competitive and we're doing well down here. We expect that to increase too and it can only help the local high schools and the university to get swimming a little bit more competitive in the Poconos."
According to Wolbert, they offer adult swim lessons that are averaging 20 adults per month, they have 36 participants in the Mommy-and-Me swim program, and they teach an average of 50 lifeguards per year. They also offer water aerobics and arthritis swim classes.
"All these classes should more than double with more than double the new swim space," said Wolbert. "We are limited by the pool space we have to squeeze everything in. With a larger pool, we could cross-train programs at the same time, like having swim lessons while the swim team is practicing or doing lifeguard lessons, etc. We can't do that now."
The new construction will bring growing pains and disruptions to programs and services.
Pocono Family YMCA Executive Associate Director Erika Huber said they are working on contingency plans "with the least amount of disruption in our programs as possible. We are talking with some of our partners in the community to see if maybe parts of our programs can be offered offsite for the time the pool is out of service."
Huber projects construction to start by end of summer with the demolition of the Dunkin' and estimated it to take approximately 14 months to complete.
"Our plan is to have no service disruption for the fitness program or the childcare programs," said Huber. "While the new fitness room is under construction, members would still have access to the old fitness rooms and then we switch over. Same concept with the childcare facility reconstruction. Operations will continue as usual."
"Swimming is the the only sport that YMCA Nationals recognize as a competitive sport. There are plenty of YMCAs that have other competitive sports, but swimming is its only nationally recognized competitive sport. So this will be big for our swim programs," said Wolbert.
Maria Francis covers K-12 education and real estate, housing and development for the Pocono Record. Reach her at mfrancis@poconorecord.com.
This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Pocono Family YMCA getting bigger pool in expansion
