'Where kids can be kids': Grubb YMCA opens new teen center outfitted for esports
Barry Adoobe already finds himself at the John R. Grubb Community YMCA several times a week to play basketball or lift weights.
The recent renovation of the YMCA's Teen Center may have the 18-year-old visiting more often.
Over the past few months, the room off the gym at the North Side Des Moines YMCA has transformed from a casual meeting space to a fully-outfitted esports center with a large couch square in the middle. With esports, kids can participate in organized video game competitions.
"It's fun, there are a lot of things to do," Adoobe said during a break from playing an NBA video game on one of the room's four Xbox Series X consoles.
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The four stations — a console and a TV with two seats and two controllers — can entertain eight teens at a time and will soon be used for esports competitions.
The new center will also serve as the hub for the local YMCA's leadership development program GRIT, or Grubb Role Models in Training.
Staff at the YMCA are said they are already planning esports tournaments July 9 and 23 and August 6 and 20.
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The newly-opened space is the brainchild of Tavian Banks, the Hawkeye football star and retired NFL running back who is the Grubb YMCA's executive director.
He's dreamed up the center because, he said, the community doesn't have enough safe recreation spaces for teens.
"It's great to see the kids enjoy it," he said.
The center's renovation was made possible with support from the Iowa Wolves, a minor league basketball team affiliated with the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves. The YMCA and the basketball team have also worked together to create a teen league in the Des Moines metro.
Leisha De Smet, president and chief executive officer of the YMCA of Greater Des Moines, said the center's makeover is a way to continue to serve the community while officials focus on the fundraising campaign to replace of the Grubb YMCA in favor of a new recreation center.
That likely won't happen though for another year and a half to two years, De Smet said.
"Youth development is incredibly important to us and we're continuing to serve all the way from the youngest children all the way up," she said. "This Teen Center is a place where kids can be kids, youth can be youth and teens can be teens. We just want to be able to meet you guys where you are."
The center will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and also 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday. A YMCA employee will be present in the space during the center's operating hours.
Sarah LeBlanc covers the western suburbs for the Register. Reach her at 515-284-8161 or sleblanc@registermedia.com. Follower her on Twitter at @sarahkayleblanc
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines YMCA opens teen center with TVs and Xboxes for esports
