Lucy Anderson can’t wait for the Haselwood Family YMCA in Silverdale to open.
She bought her membership in October and plans to attend the ribbon cutting Wednesday.
“I’ll be there at 8 o’clock,” said Anderson, 58, of Poulsbo. Classes will begin at 9 a.m.
After a full year of construction, the sparkling new 85,000-square-foot, $22 million facility will open for weight-lifting, swimming and just about any other activity Wednesday morning.
For residents who want to give the facility a test drive before committing to a membership, the Haselwood Family YMCA will have an open house from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 4.
The building will be open for free for non-members, Executive Director Geoff Ball said.
However, those like Anderson already have plans.
The retired records manager at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard said she plans to use the YMCA for Zumba classes and for walking around the track.
And although she has never tried it, maybe even Tai Chi.
“It gives me a lot of options — of classes,” Anderson said.
And on Thursday the “Y” will begin operating at normal weekday hours from 4:45 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
On Monday the Haselwood Family YMCA had more than 8,000 members, but the maximum membership roll of 15,000 is expected to be met by the end of the year.
Dive in
The Haselwood Family YMCA has a six-lane pool, 25 yards long. At least three lanes will always be open for lap swimming even during scheduled classes. Those 15 and younger are able to swim in the lap pool once completing a swim test.
Alesha Swearingen of Bremerton became a member of the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties three months ago and has been going to the Bremerton Family YMCA to swim in the pool because she cannot lift weights due to a back injury. Registering for the Pierce and Kitsap Counties membership allows for access at all YMCA locations in the two counties. She plans to check out the new Silverdale location when it opens.
“I’m excited. I’m hoping they will have more of a mix,” Swearingen, 28, said.
In addition to the lap lane pool, the Haselwood Famiy YMCA will have a warm water pool and a water slide and lazy river — a portion where the water flows like a river current. The warm water pool is about 87 degrees in temperature and because of its zero-entry design, it is accessible for wheelchair-use for water therapy. The warm water instructional pool is also used for shallow water aerobics classes where feet remain on the bottom of the pool at all times. The lazy river is also good for therapy, as people can walk against the current, Ball said. The lifeguard ratio for the pools will be one lifeguard to every 25 members, he added.
Next to the pools are a hot tub and sauna as well. There are six family changing rooms that are wheelchair accessible and lead straight to the pools. Separate locker rooms for men and women are also located next to the pools. Lockers are provided for day-use and members are encouraged to bring their own lock to secure belongings. Both the women and men’s locker rooms have a designated section for adults only and a section for adults and children.
Many classes at the Haselwood YMCA are operated in a drop-in basis with no sign-up needed, with the exception of swim classes and youth programs, Ball said. All classes are included with membership and are of no extra cost. There are seven different levels of youth swim lessons for children ages 6 to 12. Three different levels of teen swim classes are also available. For adults, there is a beginner class as well as one for more experienced swimmers. Parents also have the option to take family swim classes with their children ages 6 months to 3 years old where these younger kids can learn water skills through games and exercises in the pool.
Getting the heart rate going
Colby Carlson, 20, who lives near Keyport, knows exactly what she will do at the Haselwood Family YMCA: cardio workouts.
The Olympic College student said her mother won a 6-month free family YMCA membership in March so she has been using the Bremerton Family YMCA to use the cardio equipment such as the ellipticals and treadmills. She will be taking classes at Olympic College in the summer but on days when she isn’t at school, she will be at the new Silverdale location.
Carlson is looking forward to more space and new equipment.
The Silverdale location will have 88 pieces of cardio equipment including epllipticals, treadmills and adaptive motion trainers. With adaptive motion trainers, the user decides what type of stride motion to take and thus the workout could be similar to a stair climber one time and an elliptical another. All cardio equipment at the Haselwood YMCA is manufactured by Precor. The main floor will be used for cardio and strength training with additional cardio equipment on the second floor as well. For strength training, equipment includes free weights as well as different machines.
The cardio equipment has individual viewing screens to monitor workouts but also to have access to cable television. Each one also comes with its own iPod dock and headphone jack for users to listen to their own music. Members must be 15 years or older to use the cardio and strength training equipment. However, certified youth ages 10 to 14 are able to use the equipment after going through an orientation.
For those who want a more organized workout, classes are available for all types of interests including step aerobics, Zumba — Latin dance-based cardio workouts — yoga, group indoor cycling, martial arts and kickboxing. There are four multi-purpose rooms — two large studios for the high impact classes, one for youth programs and one “spirit mind body” room designed for classes like yoga and Pilates. The rooms have full-length mirrors on the walls and built-in sound systems. The “spirit mind body” room has a dimming feature for the lights to create ambiance.
For the kids
There will be a designated portion of the southwest corner on the main level of the YMCA for teenagers and will include a ping pong table, tables and computers for homework use. Next to the teen center will be Adventure Zone, which is a play structure that is used in part for Child Watch — the facility’s daycare service.
Infants starting at 6 weeks to children age 11 can be dropped off at Child Watch to be supervised for up to three hours while parents workout, Ball said, adding that the cost is $3.50 per hour for the first child. There is a toddler gym with a rubber floor and mini basketball hoop as well as an outdoor playground that is only accessible from indoors.
Climbing time
Towering 35 feet high is the climbing wall that can be seen through the glass walls at the main entrance. It is designed for seven climbers but about five climbers will be able to use it at one time, Ball said. The YMCA will provide climbing equipment including helmets and harnesses with members required to bring their own shoes — tennis shoes are acceptable.
Belay certification classes are offered for members who wish to climb the wall without staff supervision. The auto-belay function allows for people to climb solo.
Adjacent to the climbing wall is the birthday party room that can be reserved for celebrations. When using the birthday room, there is an option to incorporate the climbing wall into the festivities, Ball said. Those that may not be thrilled about scaling a wall have other choices including having a birthday pool party or a dress-up and dance party.
Courtside
The full-size hardwood court is lined for full court basketball, but is also marked for two half basketball courts, three pickleball courts and two volleyball courts. Pick-up basketball is scheduled every day at noon.
“That’s pretty standard at the ‘Y,’” Ball said of having mid-day hoops.
On the main level, the court can be seen from part of the indoor track above on the second level. The three-lane track — designated lanes for running, jogging or walking — is one-eighth of a mile, Ball said. The direction of the track will alternate clockwise and counter-clockwise on a daily basis with signs indicating which way users need to move on the track that day.
12-week program
The 12-week program provides a higher level of coaching and support for members who want to meet their fitness goals — or may not know where to start in making goals to improve their health. It is not a new program to the Haselwood Family YMCA, other locations offer it as well, but members will be able to use all new equipment.
“It’s for folks who just don’t know how to start a fitness regime,” Ball said.
Each program is catered to each person based on personal fitness goals that can range from wanting to lose a certain number of pounds to merely getting back into shape. Ball gave the example that someone who is trying to lose a lot of weight may not necessarily start out on the cardio equipment but in the pool and work up to running — each step of the way supported by a staff member.
Part of the community
Although the YMCA is a membership-based facility, there are scholarships available for those qualified and opportunities for all youth and teenagers to participate.
The teen Late Night program will begin Friday, June 17, where the building will be available for all teens. Non-member teens will be able to use the basketball court, cardio and strength training equipment, pool and other amenities for free. As always, teens who are members can also participate. Aside from normal facility usage made available to teens, the YMCA plans to occasionally host guest speakers, open mic nights and other programs in conjunction with Late Night.
In addition, there will be a similar late night program geared for middle school youth at 8:30 p.m. Saturdays for both non-members and members. These middle school and teen late nights will take place on a weekly basis.
For those who work toward improving the community of Silverdale, the YMCA is cause for celebration.
“It’s going to be a good thing for Silverdale and the whole Central Kitsap area,” Bob Moyer, Central Kitsap Community Council president said. “It’s something that we’ve been a long time coming — trying to find something that will create a gathering place. I think the ‘Y’ on the campus will do that.”
Part of the Central Kitsap Community Campus, the YMCA is the only designated facility thus far. The Central Kitsap Community Campus Design Committee is drafting a vision for the campus with the master plan expected to be proposed to county commissioners for approval at the end of the year, said Moyer, who is also a member of the committee. The campus is made up of about 12 acres.
And being a part of the community is more than just providing a place where residents can be active and achieve their fitness goals.
Clayton DeNault, associate executive director, said all YMCA facilities strive to have a strong group of volunteers and the Haselwood Family YMCA plans to do the same.
“A good volunteer program is something you establish. We’re starting to get folks calling us,” DeNault said.
The Haselwood Family YMCA had 20 volunteers as of Monday and DeNault said he expects more than 100 signed up shortly after the opening. Volunteers fill positions based on their interests and skills with some teaching classes and others being greeters at the front desk, he said.
There were 200 staff that had been hired for the new facility with a dozen or so positions that still need to be filled, Michelle LaRue, spokeswoman for YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties said Tuesday. The average pay for a full-time staff is $18.35 an hour with the average for part-time being $9.37 hourly, she said. Staff will be going around with iPads on the first days of opening to receive instant feedback and input from members for changes or improvements, LaRue added.
The Haselwood Family YMCA has a campaign goal of raising $12 million for the facility and $10.83 million has been raised, Jesse Palmer, capital campaign director said Monday. There may be some corporate gifts and a state grant coming in but neither are certain, Palmer said. The $1.25 million-grant from the state would cover the remainder of the campaign goal.
“We hope to announce that we reach our goal before opening, but it’s contingent on what corporations decide and the state,” Palmer said.
There’s more
Aside from the cardio equipment that can be seen through the windows from vehicles driving on Randall Way, there’s more to the Haselwood Family YMCA than typical workout amenities.
Global Bean, the coffee shop located on Myhre Place in Silverdale, will have a shop on the main floor and will be ready for service on opening day to meet the caffeine needs of members. Next to the Global Bean is a fireplace for gathering and meeting with friends. The entire building is also wifi-accessible for members who choose to bring their personal computers and want to surf the web.
Harrison Medical Center is also a tenant of the YMCA and will be providing services to its patients on the second floor in its own space. After a patient examination, the medical staff may guide the patient through a fitness routine using YMCA equipment, said Ball, adding that the users do not necessarily have to be members of the YMCA in these circumstances. The medical center will begin its services in the YMCA July 1, he said.
A community room with a kitchen located on the second floor is where a variety of cooking and nutrition classes will be held, mostly operated by Harrison staff. The room can also be rented out for outside groups as a meetings space.
With many different options available at the Haselwood Family YMCA, it makes sense that Anderson plans on using the facility nearly every day.
“I plan to go at least five times a week,” she said. “I’m retired so I have time for the first time.”
Haselwood Family YMCA
3909 NW Randall Way, Silverdale
(360) 698-9622
www.ymcapkc.org
Open House
Saturday, June 4
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. open for the use of
non-members as well as members
Hours
4:45 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
6:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Saturday
9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sunday
Membership desk hours
6 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday through Friday
8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday
Photos by Kristin Okinaka
Starting from the top: Pools are located on the east side of the building. The Haselwood YMCA will offer a variety of swim classes for youth and adults as well as aquatics classes including deep water aerobics and aquatic Zumba; The Adventure Zone is a children’s play structure located on the main floor;There will be a full-size basketball court used for different activities depending on the time of day; Aside from open climbing periods, there will also be “Climb Time,” which will be a a drop-in program for kids to climb the wall with staff assigned to belay. The program is open for children five and older with parents needing to sign waivers for children younger than 15.
