“I think that speaks to the very heart and essence of the mission of the YMCA,” says Barry Taylor, president and CEO of YMCA of Greater Richmond. “The fact people moved into this community that didn’t really exist 10 years ago and made the YMCA a community gathering place really moves to the core of what we are.”
The 68,000-square-foot Shady Grove location serves about 15,000 members, mostly consisting of families. In terms of membership, it is the largest among the 15 branches operated by the YMCA of Greater Richmond. The Shady Grove facility has an annual budget of $6.5 million and employs 24 full-time and around 260 part-time workers.
The area’s YMCA was located off of Cox Road at Lakepointe Shopping Center until it secured 23 acres at Nuckols and Twin Hickory roads in the early 1990s. Construction on the current YMCA location finished in 1998.
The appeal to area residents is evident. Shady Grove offers an abundant array of activities and services for adults seeking to improve their health or looking for fun. There’s a vast gymnasium for structured and pickup basketball and volleyball. There’s a 25-meter indoor pool that’s as refreshing in the winter as it is in the summer. There are two fitness centers with high-tech equipment.
“We get brand-new cardio equipment every three years because all our equipment is leased,” says Megan O’Neill, executive director of the Shady Grove Family YMCA. “So every three years, we receive state-of-the-art equipment.”
Adults also enjoy two aerobic studios, an indoor track and modern locker rooms. Classes range from spinning to scuba diving to yoga and Pilates. Each new member receives a personal wellness profile, which is a 15-page assessment of current health.
But perhaps it’s the children who benefit most from the facility. The YMCA of Greater Richmond is the area’s largest school-age childcare provider. The association shuttles more than 2,400 students from 90 elementary schools and 20 middle schools to its 15 branches for afterschool activities. Shady Grove covers seven elementary schools and five middle schools. The afterschool program runs until 6:30 p.m.
Older children benefit from many of the same activities as the adults but also pass time in the teen center or learn an instrument in any of the six music rooms.
The YMCA is open to anybody — yes, literally anybody who wants to participate in its programs. Last year, Shady Grove offered more than $550,000 in financial assistance.
“Our philanthropy work is really what makes us different,” O’Neill says. “We will not deny anybody because of their inability to pay. We have a generous community that gives us donations that keep us open to anybody. We’re lucky we sit in a nice corner of the community, but the heart of who we are is giving back to that community.”
For more information, visit www.shadygroveymca.org or www.ymcarichmond.org.
