Lakeland Hills YMCA: Inside the Renovation

Sweat equity. It doesn’t get any more on point when describing the complete reboot of the Lakeland Hills Family YMCA, though next level fits nicely, too.

“This is our back to the future moment,” says CEO Alex Martinez, referring to the popular 1980s time-travel trilogy, starring Michael J. Fox.The ribbon has long been cut, but the effects are still reverberating through the township as members continue to strive for their personal bests using state-of-the art technology that meets them on their terms.

This is not to discount the human touch advantage of personal trainers or specialty staff on hand to help them navigate through upgraded equipment or overall wellness.

“We’re more than gym and swim,” says Martinez. “We are a public health institution and a vehicle by which we help people lead their best lives.”

This renovation in particular was all about community, and the absence of walls in the health fitness center reflects just that. A white “ripple” wall pays homage to the Edward and Edith Parker Charitable Fund and positive affirmations such as “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,” are strewn throughout. On a less visible but necessary note, a new HVAC system was installed to help clear the air so to speak.

Technology-driven equipment helps members keep members accountable including the new EGYM, a 28-minute circuit that adjusts according to personalized biometrics, or what Martinez refers to as a digital personal trainer.

“It’ll even tell you your biological age,” he adds. “And the stronger you get, your biological age actually lowers.” The new platform-based cycling studio incorporates a digital system that pairs color to strength allowing members to “spin by color.”

“The new cardio machines are now leased in order to stay on point with evolving upgrades,” says Rosemary Linder-Day, vice president of marketing and membership.

Changing Times  

Cool features aside, Martinez refers to the open space concept as the North Star behind the redesign, but the true call to action really came in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Martinez came on board in 2020, fired up and ready to bring a holistic approach to wellness. Then along came the pandemic, followed by the lockdown, and the global division that ensued.

In a backwards kind of way, this world moment energized Martinez even more. As the world and Y began to reopen, member feedback was taken very much to heart and was paramount to effecting the change.

“If we were to succeed post-Covid, we had to meet the needs of the community,” he says. “And we had to foster a sense of just that: community.”

What better way to create connectivity than by breaking down barriers across the physical and demographic divide where design meets functionality? As a result, the walls fell victim to the wrecking ball, leaving a clean slate in which to populate with updated machines, and equally as important, a bridging of the generational divide.

The health and fitness center now allows children as young as 12 to join their parents and work out side-by-side, says Linder-Day.

From the last wall standing, to the first calibration of a new machine, the reboot took about six months to complete. In keeping disruptions to a minimum, there was a bit of reshuffling involved.

Pickleball was diverted to Camp Rickabear in Kinnelon, and basketball took the game outside to make room for the temporary gym on the courts. With the exception of a two-week period before the grand reopening, the facility stayed open and coexisted with the construction.

The massive redesign was made possible through investment revenues, donors from the corporate and member realms, and a competitive bidding process that stayed within their budget and vision.

“No membership dues were used for the renovations,” says Linder-Day.

The renovations continued upstairs in the new Mind Body Spirit center, where members can be found unrolling mats in preparation for a yoga class. The center comes complete with signage and zen-like forestry print on the walls.

A new Wellness Office offers member and community access to nursing providers as well as a registered dietician for nutrition support.

Offerings

To the tune of the more things change, the more they stay the same, a Y membership still includes 90 classes a week, and half a dozen or so specialized healthy living programs such as Live Strong, Power Through Parkinson’s, and Cardiac Care Maintenance, tailored to chronic disease prevention.

Additional fees still apply for personal training or small group fitness, but there’s newly dedicated Fitworks space for those as well.

In taking the reins of mental health, the Y joined forces with Mountain Creek Resort in Vernon for a special youth resiliency program that incorporates snowboarding and workshops designed to help teens develop coping skills such as perseverance, resilience, and social emotional learning.

For young soccer enthusiasts looking to up their game or get in the spirit of the World Cup, The Juventus Academy of New Jersey offers all-level professional level coaching. The program is based on the professional Juventus Soccer Team in Italy and is open to children ages 5 to 17 who have a current membership.

Future forward in nature and impactful in breadth and depth, this is not the first time the Y went under the knife. A smattering of smaller projects has taken place in the past few years, such as the top-to-bottom rebuild of the swimming pool, a grant-supported Science and Arts Studio, new elevator, and a complete glow up of the Welcome Center to encourage lingering.

“The Welcome Center is like a Mountain Lakes living room,” he says. “We wanted to create a space for the community to gather, grab a cup of coffee, sit and catch up.”

This space also serves as a hot spot for community groups such as mahjong enthusiasts, knitting groups, or even book clubs.

In addressing childhood obesity or simply to reinforce healthy living habits, personal training is available for children ages 7 to 14.

“It’s not really about the weight you lose; it’s about how you feel,” Martinez adds.

“You get a lot,” he says, referencing the classes and programs built into the membership, not to mention the generational inclusion piece.

In addition to the “more than gym and swim” tagline, Martinez likes to say that the Y is transformational, not transactional: ”We want to be Cheers in spirit,” he says. “We want to build community and give people a space that they take pride in.”

Photographs by Antonietta Henry