THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 1, 1995 TAG: 9511290151
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REBECCA A. MYERS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
The YMCA of Portsmouth has expanded its pre-school area to accommodate more children and has doubled the size of its fitness room.
The fitness room, which has been closed for a week, will re-open Monday with additional cardiovascular equipment - treadmills, step machines and bicycles - and new weight machines, as well as free weights.
The additional equipment in the fitness room will reduce the wait to use the machines during the peak hours of 4:30 to 7 p.m.
``I can't tell you there's going to be no wait,'' said executive director Benn Griffin, ``but certainly with having more equipment, we should be able to handle the people more adequately than we do now.''
Much of the older fitness equipment was donated to the Portsmouth Fire Department.
``We felt like it was a community service,'' said Griffin. ``We've had a relationship with the fire department ever since we were down on High Street. They used to come and help us change our lights in the old gym down there.''
The enlarged pre-school area, also scheduled to open Monday, will serve up to 40 children and includes a kitchen and its own restrooms. The current facility accommodates about 25 pre-schoolers, ages 3 to 5.
The children's area will also be used as a base for the 65 students who participate in the Y's after-school program, said Griffin.
The expansion began in mid- to late summer and will not be accompanied by a rate increase.
``We went up on our rates last year and hopefully for the next year or so, they'll be the same,'' he said.
Since the facility opened in May 1989, two lighted tennis courts, a new aerobics floor and 55 parking places have been added.
The Y is located at 4900 W. High St. in Churchland. by CNB