New Newton YMCA Branch Opening In December

NEWTON, MA — A former Boston Sports Clubs location in Newtown will reopen this month as the new branch of the West Suburban YMCA. The Y bought the Wells Avenue club in March, and has completed an enormous renovation that includes a new gymnasium and more room than the Newton Corner Y.

Here's more from a West Suburban YMCA news release:

The West Suburban YMCA today announced it will hold a grand opening event on Thursday, Dec. 15 for its new Wells Avenue branch, a completely renovated, 61,000-square-foot facility offering a wide range of youth and adult recreation, health and fitness opportunities to members from Newton and surrounding communities.

The West Suburban YMCA leadership team will celebrate the opening of the 135 Wells Ave. facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, joined by local elected officials — including state Rep. Kay Khan, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, Ward 8 City Councilor Richard Lipof — and board members, supportive donors, and project managers. The doors will open at noon to the community for tours, and those who sign up as members will receive a gift while supplies last.

“As an organization, we could not be more excited to complete our branch expansion project and open the ‘Wells Ave. Y’ – a new hub of youth recreation and health and fitness for all in a convenient location on the south side of Newton,” said Jack Fucci, President and CEO of the West Suburban YMCA.

At one end of the building is a 24,000-square-foot gymnasium with freshly installed maple hardwood floors, set up for sports including basketball, volleyball and pickleball, while at the other end is a four-lane, 25-yard lap pool. In between are a welcoming lobby and lounge, a child care room, spacious locker rooms, three group exercise studios including a spin bike room, a work lounge overlooking the gym, and all-new strength and cardiovascular equipment on two levels. There are cell-phone charging lockers throughout the building, and the site has 170 parking spaces, about 20 percent more than at the Church Street facility.

The West Suburban YMCA launched the renovation after acquiring the property, previously operated by Boston Sports Clubs, last March. The West Suburban YMCA received a generous donation of $3 million, the largest in its history, to support the Wells Avenue project. The gift was from a Newton family for whom the Y has been central to their lives.

Members will be able use both the new facility and the Y’s longtime home at 276 Church St. in Newton Corner. The Y expects to eventually create about 100 jobs to staff the new branch.