The new YMCA on Elmgrove Road will officially open on October 18. According to Mary Kay Walrath, communications director for the YMCA of Greater Rochester, "We've had 1,400 membership signups at this branch so far, which includes families, so the actual membership is in the thousands and we expect several hundred more." The Y expects the major draw to be from the westside communities. Photograph by Walter Horylev.

Bicycle exercise machines await peddlers in the YMCA's "cardio theater" complete with television and radio hook ups.

The YMCA's new pool is the jewel of the facility. It will include a slide (not yet installed) and a family area. Photograph by Walter Horylev.

Gates gets long awaited YMCA

While the dust is flying, and workers scurry about, Chris Mangone, executive director of the new Westside YMCA, just can't wipe the smile off his face.

"The west side of Rochester has the best YMCA in the country. I'm confident of that," Mangone said. It is a tough claim to dispute after taking in all of the features of the $8 million, 50,000 square foot facility.

Mangone has been a part of the YMCA family for six years working in Buffalo, Syracuse and Rochester, but has never had an experience like this - getting to oversee the final leg of construction and helping to make a smooth transition to a fully functional facility.

"It has been an incredible experience," Mangone said. "We can take this and use it from day one to make this a place the community will be proud of."

Located at 920 Elmgrove Road, the complex includes a senior center, teen center, indoor pool (complete with inflatable slide and water park features), two aerobic studios, a whirlpool and steam sauna, a gymnasium, a fitness center and the family adventure center.

Mangone said talks on building a YMCA in Gates began 30 years ago.

"We promised this community a YMCA for so long we wanted to make sure we did it right," he said.

The facility will be open to the public October 17 for tours and prize giveaways, it will reopen the following day for the business. Mangone said adding a YMCA to the community is different than adding a gym.

"We don't consider this to be a health club," Mangone said. YMCA is a charitable organization that strives to strengthen communities through programs that stress Christian principles. YMCAs also provide financial assistance to families who otherwise could not afford to utilize these services.

And this YMCA is different from some of its counterparts because of the amount of space that is designated to socializing, whether it be next to the pool table in the teen center or by the coffee and newspaper bar for seniors.

"There really is something for everyone to do here," Mangone said.

It seems that the local community is interested in what the YMCA has to offer. The center has already sold 1,300 member units, nearly double the total organizers had predicted. Mangone said the Westside YMCA can accommodate four times the members it has now.

"There is never going to be a time when this facility will be full, it will be busy, but not full," he said.

For membership information call 585-247-3501, or visit the web site at www.westsideymca.org.