Jefferson City West YMCA's year-long renovation project is near completion, as the fitness center's new locker rooms and group exercise room are already in use.
The project, which began last June at the 3507 Amazonas Drive facility, replaced the men's and women's locker rooms - formerly about 700 square feet each - with 2,000-square-foot locker rooms each featuring a sauna, steam room, more than 160 lockers, 16 showers and toilets, and five sinks.
It also added a 4,800-square-foot multipurpose room to allow for more group exercise classes and bigger class sizes.
"It's allowing us to expand our offerings," said YCMA Development Director Shelly Poire. Many existing classes, especially yoga, have added more time options; and new classes include "Dance Mix," "Ease into Exercise" and a Pilates-yoga combination class.
The Jefferson City Area YMCA began offering all non-water group exercise classes as part of the membership fee in January.
The final stage of the renovation is to repurpose the old locker rooms as an 1,100-square-foot children's center for children ages 6-12, similar to the children's center at the Knowles YMCA on Stadium Boulevard.
"They can stay in there while their parents work out. It will have games and activities and, of course, be staffed," Poire said.
Use of the children's center also is included in the YMCA membership fee.
The Jefferson City West YMCA will host a public open house from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, which will include group exercise class demonstrations and special price promotions for non-members to join the YMCA at any of the three Jefferson City facilities.
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