Fishers YMCA Continues Tradition Of Top-Notch Service As It Plans To Expand
expand, fishers ymca, gregg hiland, recreation, top-notch service, tradition, ymca,
At 70,000 square feet, with state-of-the-art equipment, programs for all ages and some 25,000 members, the Fishers YMCA already is the largest in Indiana. And to meet growing demand, the Y announced in late 2007 that it plans to expand by as much as 10,000 square feet in the next couple of years.
It’s the personal attention that employees give those who come through the doors that sets this Y apart and keeps interest booming.
“What makes our facility so special is the staff that we have,” says Gregg Hiland, executive director, who has been here since the Fishers Y opened in 2002. “We have folks who really care about our members and care about the community. And I think when you walk into our facility you can feel that.
“We really do care about how our members are doing,” continues Hiland, who has worked in Ys for nearly two decades. “It’s difficult when we have such a large membership base, but we work really hard at trying to maintain that connection with all of our members.”
The staff numbers about 350, but fluctuates seasonally. Hiland says the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, with 12 branches, has a philosophy of membership for all, where the rates are based on household income.
The Fishers Y, located at 9012 E. 126th St., just west of Indiana 37, draws members from Hamilton County and northern Marion County. When the current building was constructed, it was the first new Y in the Indianapolis area in 40 years.
Amenities include an indoor pool and whirlpool, indoor program pool, outdoor recreation pool and water park, the Family Prime Time Center, two
full-court gymnasiums, a Teen Center, group exercise rooms, free weight area, family locker rooms, boys and girls locker rooms, adult male and female locker rooms and cutting-edge fitness equipment.
The facility’s hours make it easy to find time to exercise. It opens at 5 a.m. Monday through Friday and closes at 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with a Friday closing time of 10 p.m.
Programming is geared to all ages and interests and includes a wide range of health and fitness instruction; swim lessons and aquatics classes; before- and after-school child care; art, cooking and language classes; babysitting courses; teen activities; enrichment classes; home school courses; dance; youth and adult sports leagues; and much more. There truly is something for everyone.
“It’s gratifying to see the facility so well used,” Hiland says. “We try to develop new programs to keep the Y interesting to those in the community. We target all ages from kids as young as 6 weeks to active older adults who use our facility and are in our programs well into their late 80s.”
Working with the town of Fishers has been key to the Y’s success, Hiland says.
“The town has been probably our best partner,” Hiland says. “They are a very important ally for us not only to get this facility built, but also as we look to new opportunities on this site.”
Story by Anne Gillem
Photo by Michael W. Bunch
