New Rochelle YMCA to Host Fundraiser Thursday for Pool Closed due to Structural Problems

by Alexandra Steinberg

For more than 30 years, the New Rochelle YMCA has been offering swimming lessons, aerobics classes and summer camps in its indoor pool.

But in an attempt to update the pool’s structure to match pool design codes, the steel beams that support the roof structure were found to be corroded.

They must be replaced. Meanwhile, the pool is closed.

To raise money towards the $1.4 million construction costs, County Legislator Jim Maisano and Westchester County Clerk Tim Idoni will be hosting “Democrats and Republicans Agree – Together We Can Save the New Rochelle YMCA!,” a fundraising event March 26.

The Y has to raise at least $400,000 on its own. The rest of the money would be funded through bank loans, grants and independent donors. Currently, the Y has raised more than $212,000.

Gallanty understands how important the pool is to the community and how without the pool fixed, there is a possibility the Y could close.

“The stark reality is if we cannot raise these funds, our pool will have to close for good,” said Julie Gallanty, the Y’s CEO. “And since the pool is a major source of funding for us, we would have to close our doors to the community entirely.”

Maisano is working with all elected officials, even those who don’t share his Republican political affiliation, to get the pool working again.

“All elected officials got together to save the pool,” he said. “We’re hoping we can be successful, get the loan and re-open.”

The Y serves as one of the only indoor pools in the area, and without it, children would have to wait until the summer to get swimming lessons.

“It’s the only place nine months out of the year where kids can take lessons and swim,” Maisano said.

The pool has served as a shared gathering for senior citizens to exercise with water aerobics. According to CEO Julie Gallanty, the Y is the “home away from home for the senior citizens.”

Some of the politicians attending the fundraising event are Congressman Eliot Engel, State Senators Andrea Stewart-Cousins and George Latimer, County Executive Rob Astorino and New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson.

“Democrats and Republicans Agree – Together We Can Save the New Rochelle YMCA!” will be held at the New Rochelle YMCA 7-9 p.m. on March 26. The New Rochelle YMCA is located at 50 Weyman Ave. in New Rochelle. Tickets cost $75 and are tax deductible. For more information, visit nrymca.org/lifesaver.

PHOTOS/YMCA:

Picture 1: Children can take swimming lessons year-round with one of New Rochelle’s only indoor pools.

Picture 2: The pool while it was operating. Currently, the pool is closed due to unsafe structural support for the roof.

Picture 3: Senior citizens enjoy a water aerobics class.