SOUTH BRUNSWICK: YMCA unveils expansion plan

by Davy James, Staff Writer
   The South Brunswick Family YMCA was expected to present expansion plans to the Planning Board on Wednesday.
   If approved the plan would expand the 32,000-square-foot facility to approximately 70,000 square feet and would include an eight-lane indoor pool, gymnasium, wellness center and family fun and leisure pool, according to Executive Director Tom Libassi.
   ”We continue to emphasize the fact that we’re making inroads into moving this project along,” Mr. Libassi said. “There’s a lot of excitement because everyone is looking for a pool. It couldn’t come quick enough.”
   If the application is approved, phase one of the pool expansion is scheduled to begin in early 2010 and could take approximately two years to complete.
   The YMCA was awarded a $3 million grant in 2007 from Middlesex County toward the $4.5 million cost of the first phase. A capital campaign project will begin this year to raise the remaining $1.5 million, with donations sought from members, surrounding communities, businesses, corporations and foundations.
   The second phase of the plan will include the gym and wellness center and the third phase will be the installation of the leisure pool.
   Architectural plans for phase one are expected to be finalized in June and sent out for bid in July. The bid is expected to be awarded some time in the fall.
   Mr. Libassi said he expects the expansion will bring in new members and bring back people who used to belong to the YMCA.
   ”We think there are a lot of people who have not used or not taken advantage of the YMCA because it doesn’t have a full-sized pool,” he said. “There’s also a number of people who left so we expect there to be a solid growth in membership because of the addition of a full-size pool.”