Step into the Brown Family YMCA at 170 Landrum Lane, Ponte Vedra Beach, and the results of its recent transformation are immediately apparent. Everything is brighter, more inviting.
“I’m excited for everyone in the community to see our renovation,” said Executive Director Cara Roach.
But the many changes made during the long-planned, $4.1 million upgrade are much more than cosmetic. There is real purpose behind the choices made for the various spaces throughout.
The Steve and Laurie Austin Wellness Center, for instance, is loaded with all-new workout equipment. And though many of these pieces are traditional favorites, the innovative EGYM Smart Strength Circuit is sure to attract a dedicated following.
This U-shaped area is comprised of several stations, each with a video display. As in a video game, the user must manipulate actions on the screen, though with the exercise equipment instead of a joystick. This cleverly ensures that the correct form is being applied to the workout.
First-time patrons are onboarded and then use a personalized wristband so that the stations properly identify them and track their progress. When the person leaves for the day, it’s a simple matter upon returning to pick up where he or she left off.
Another major addition to the facility is The Horschel Family Foundation Center for Health and Well-Being, which will host speakers, community programming, support groups and more.
“At the Horschel Family Foundation, we’re very interested in re-investing into the community,” said foundation Executive Director Brad Nelson. “One of the pillars focuses on mental health and healthy living.”
Programs will be designed for specific demographics, because older adults, parents, children and teens all require something different.
One area of concern is isolation, especially within the younger generation, in part due to the rise of social media but also accelerated by the lasting social fallout of COVID-19. Anxiety and depression levels, as well as incidence of substance abuse, are on the upswing.
“People are not happy, and they don’t know why,” said Nelson, “and creating a safe space for all generations to come to was something that was very important.”
The center’s programs, and the offerings of the facility as a whole, address this human need.
“Once we get people into a space and they are just talking, they come back,” Nelson said. “People are craving this.”
The Bruning Foundation Recovery Room is another innovation sure to be a hit with members. The cryolounge, hydromassage bed and infrared saunas are proving very popular. In fact, it seems that anyone trying the hydromassage is destined to sing its praises.
“People fall in love with it,” Roach said.
“We’ve been supporters of the Y since close to the beginning,” said Kimberly Donahue of The Bruning Foundation. “We decided to sponsor the recovery room, and we are excited that it is the first recovery room here on the First Coast. We realized it was such an integral part of working out and what our bodies need in order to recover. Also, it’s perfect for the aging community.”
The Furyk and Friends Kid Zone for kids 11 months to 12 years old has an all-new look as well as new furniture and toys. An outdoor turf area provides for safe, outdoor play.
And the Chartrand Family Foundation Teen Center is an instant success with young patrons. Roach said about 70 kids hurry over to the Y from Landrum Middle School after dismissal.
“We wanted to give the whole community a variety of different resources,” said Tyler Brown of the Brown Family Foundation. “So, regardless of your age, your athletic or fitness goals, what we wanted was a well-rounded facility. We really wanted to make it a place that had all the best equipment and tools for any stage of life or any fitness goal.”
Randy Hayes, a Brown Family YMCA Advisory Board member for more than a decade, has watched the development of the project unfold over several years and anticipates the next step: installation of an airnasium on the property.
“It just feels great to have it done and to have it done in a really meaningful and impactful way,” he said.
