YMCA in Woodinville Opening its Doors to the Community

The Y at the Carol Edwards Center, as the new YMCA site is called, is gearing up to offer Woodinville an array of classes, child care, and other community services beginning with a Zumba party on April 17.

Fencing, Zumba, floorball (not to be confused with broomball which is played on ice), open-gym basketball plus the senior computer center, and childcare during some classes are just the beginning according to Joe Robustelli, business and engagement director for Northshore YMCA and manager of the Woodinville site.

“We’re still finding out from the Woodinville community about what they want here,” he said. “The Y is very excited to be expanding our programs here because so many of our patrons are from here.”

Woodinville has been without a recreation center since the was shuttered at the end of last year when the city’s shrinking revenue stream forced elimination of the recreation department. Rather than leaving the community center mothballed, the city sent out a call for recreational proposals. The YMCA answered.

Robustelli said the Y kept as many programs running as it could since the beginning of the year, including continuing to operate the Senior Center (open Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon). The floorball group (basically, floor hockey with sticks) which has been meeting at the CEC for years, will again be playing the indoor sport at the center, this time under the banner of the Y, according to Robustelli.

The new Zumba classes begin April 18, and will be held Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 7:15 p.m. to 8 p.m., there will be childcare available onsite during the classes. There is a Zumba welcome party on April 17 for the entire Woodinville community, Robustelli said.

Most drop in classes, such as Zumba, floorball and basketball, will be free to YMCA facility members and $5 per session to anyone with a Woodinville address. Courses, such as the Olympic-style fencing program, will have higher fees. Fencing classes will be offered from 5-8 p.m. on Thursdays for both children and adults.

The YMCA has been operating programs in other areas of Woodinville for some time. Since 2010 it has run the programs, as well as offering summer day camps at the park. The Y also operates the rope course at Cottage Lake.

For information on all the YMCA programs and to offer suggestions for future programs, contact the Y at 425- 485-9797, or check the Website, ymcanorthshore.org.