Growing up

     By Kirk Kern
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      The YMCA hasn't had a major expansion in 20 years.
      The city of Las Vegas is in the process of building two state-of-the art community centers that will feature many of the same types of amenities the YMCA utilizes.
      So when the city decided it would contract out the operations of one of the facilities, the Northwest Leisure Services Center at 3521 N. Durango Road, the YMCA was right there to make its bid.
      "What it boils down to is the city council and/or the city management team decided to make a decision on how to run the center," said Michael Lubbe, president/CEO of the YMCA of Southern Nevada. "They were looking for a 501C3 nonprofit organization to develop services. We responded and were subsequently picked."
      Lubbe called it a perfect example of a public-private partnership that makes it possible to get things done quickly. He said the YMCA would have had to undergo a massive campaign to raise the kind of funds to do it themselves and the city doesn't have to furnish, equip or staff the facility.
      A third entity, the Bureau of Land Management, donated the land and will get the final approval of the contract between the YMCA and the city.
      "We're going to try to deliver quality programs to serve the constituents out there," Lubbe said. "We're in the process of trying to get it up and running as quickly as possible because that's what the residents want."
      The $7 million, 45,000-square-foot center is scheduled to open Feb. 1 with a state-of-the-art fitness center, a large gymnasium, outdoor pool and multi-purpose/community rooms for programs, track breaks and day camps.
      "We are happy to be able to expand quality `Y' programs in the Northwest," said Elizabeth Hyatt, membership director at the new facility. "Demand for a full-facility YMCA in that area is great and this is a wonderful opportunity to continue serving the community."
      Programs offered include adult fitness classes and personal training in the fitness center, youth track break and other activities for preschool kids, such as gymnastics and Itty Bitty sports. There will also be youth sports leagues run out of the YMCA as well.
      There will also be parent-child classes in cooking, creative dance and movement, arts and crafts and painting.
      The new facility will be the YMCA's first full-service facility expansion since the Bennett Family YMCA opened 20 years ago at 4141 Meadows Lane.
      "When we built that Y, it was out on the edge of town," Lubbe said.
      The facility will be open to YMCA members along with those wishing to use the facility, or attend programs, on a daily basis. YMCA fees are $25 to join ($50 for families) and a monthly fee of $26 for an individual, $22 for seniors, $16 for students and $46 for families. Daily fees are $10 for individuals and seniors, $5 for students and $15 for families.
      The center will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
      The YMCA is currently offering 300 charter memberships to people who join the Northwest Leisure Services YMCA. Charter members will receive hundreds of dollars in gifts and discount coupons for merchandise and programs.
      Those interested in charter memberships can contact Hyatt at 877-9622.
      But despite a five-year operating agreement with the city, it remains to be seen how long the YMCA will run this facility since the Las Vegas City Employees Association is attempting to block the deal. The union organization feels by privatizing the facility through the YMCA, it will take away jobs from city employees.
      "Our position on this situation is we've formed a partnership with the city," Lubbe said. "They elected, for a variety of reasons, to let the YMCA run the center. So we're doing everything we can to get the facility ready for the public. We're trying to get it furnished and equipped and have all the staffing in place."