YMCA to offer gym, pool, ‘Express Y’ until renovations finish in 2017

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — More than four months since fire severely damaged the Wilmington Family YMCA on Market Street, the group is moving forward with services for its members.

In a letter to members and the community, YMCA President and CEO Dick Jones said because of the extent of the damage from the Feb.7 fire, the facility at 2710 Market Street will not reopen completely until early 2017. Jones says the YMCA board is working with a design firm on developing the renovations for the building.

In the meantime, the YMCA limited access to its building and plans to offer what it calls Express Y at the corner of Kerr and Market streets.

“This state-of-the-art space will be the new home for group exercise classes, personal training, strength training, cardio exercise, child watch, and the Y Café,” Jones wrote. “Although smaller than the 2710 Market Street Y in square footage, each of the individual program spaces are larger (with the exception of the locker rooms) and will provide you with the best in health and wellness equipment.”

The YMCA hopes to have Express Y open some time next month. The future of the facility for Express Y will be reassessed after 2710 Market Street reopens.

With the use of modular locker rooms, including showers, restrooms, changing rooms and lockers, that arrived at 2710 Market Street earlier this month, the YMCA plans to reopen its six-lane pool by July 1. It also will be able to reopen the gym at the site using a side entrance. Use of the gym will be primarily for summer camp for the time being, Jones wrote.