Photos by Javonte Anderson
Video produced by Kuwilileni Hauwanga and Rayonna Burton-Jernigan
The Tolleston neighborhood welcomed a new community hub Monday, when Gary’s new YMCA campus opened its doors, offering financial, health, and childcare services.
Located at 1771 Taney Place, on the site of the former Tolleston Middle School, the facility is one of the few new developments to open in Gary in recent years. It will change the way that Gary residents get exercise and practice wellness, allowing the thousands who go outside of the city looking for gyms to stay local.
Capital B toured the new $50 million facility last week with the executive director, LaShawn Brooks, a Gary native, last week.
The 91,000-square-foot facility includes three full-size hardwood basketball courts, an upstairs indoor track, classrooms, a wellness center, a child development center, community gathering spaces, and more.
More images and clips from our tour follow.
Lobby
Next to the entrance is the check-in desk. The lobby features a locally operated cafe, Juice Jung Cafe, a Wintrust Bank branch, and a wellness center run by Methodist Hospital.
Daycare
The youngest YMCA attendees can enjoy themselves in the daycare, where there are toys, games, and other activities that pay homage to the Steel City.
Group Exercise Room
For those looking for group workouts, the new Y offers two large group exercise classrooms that offer everything from yoga to Zumba to step classes.
Swimming Pools
The pool area has three indoor pools, including a traditional recreation pool offering water aerobics. The Y offers water exercise classes, swim classes for all ages, a warm-water therapy pool with ramp access, and a whirlpool.
Young Adult Area
Young adults can also enjoy classic and new video games, arts and crafts, individual reading space, and selective workout programs.
Kitchen
The full-size kitchen has a sitting area that allows staff to host cooking classes that offer healthy and diverse recipes for all ages.
“Our passion for the community runs deep, not because Tolleston is where we work,” Brooks said. “Tolleston is more than a place where we work; it’s a community to which many of us are personally connected.”
The YMCA also plans to offer youth and adult sports, swim lessons, and other programs.
Memberships are expected to cost $59 per month for families and $39 for individuals. Some services, including personal training and swim lessons, will cost extra.
Currently, the organization reports over 270 local sign-ups, a number they hope to increase before the end of the year.
The facility is a partnership between the city, Crossroads YMCA, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Northwest Indiana, and Methodist Hospitals. It is funded by a mix of city, state, and philanthropic contributions.
More information about the facility, signing up for a membership, and the programs offered is available at crymca.org/tollestonopportunitycampus.
