Oakley Family YMCA heading for new digs

August 6, 2004

For years we've called it the Delta Family YMCA. Although the building has been located in Oakley for more than 10 years, the Delta Family YMCA serviced the East Contra Costa area as a whole. Classes and activities were offered to all the residents throughout the area. While the programs are still open to all the residents in the area, the Delta Family YMCA is now the Oakley Family YMCA.

"We are really looking forward to the new changes to come for Oakley's YMCA," said Tim Byrd the YMCA's regional director.

The change coincides with the new joint venture with the city of Oakley to build a new facility for the YMCA that will also house the city's recreation activities. The plans have been underway for the past two years to use the property that the Oakley Municipal Advisory Council had helped the county to purchase more than 15 years ago.

For years the idea for the Morro property, which is located on O'Hara Avenue between the O'Hara Park School administration building and the Contra Costa Canal, has been considered for an Oakley community center.

Unfortunately, the city won't have the funds for such a project for some time to come. Since there wasn't an opportunity for that to happen anytime soon, the city decided to work on a joint effort with the Delta Family YMCA to build a new facility.

According to Byrd, the YMCA has just finalized the deal with the company that makes a portable style building that can be used temporarily while the new building is being funded and built. "These buildings are really just temporary. They are only meant to last five years," Byrd said.

The new building is planned to start construction in three years, so that should give plenty of time for the new building to be built. The temporary building is set to be 2,000 square feet larger than the facility that they are currently using on Main Street. It should take until mid-fall for the new temporary building to be designed and installed on the Morro property.

When it is, Byrd said that not only will there be a new building but also new equipment installed. Already they have planned for new cardiovascular equipment with treadmills that will have a their own theaters attached to give people something to view while they are exercising. There is also a new circuit weight system and of course all of the free weights will be back.

The new space will allow for an expanded aerobic studio, which will also include gymnastic and dance classes as well as cardo-kick boxing. While the Oakley YMCA already has lots of programs for all ages, they will be adding new programs like sit and be fit classes that will be great for seniors and disabled citizens. "We will also have Mommy and Me classes that I foresee something of a mommy club with pre- and post-natal classes," Byrd said.

While the aerobic study is not being used for YMCA classes the plan is to allow the community to use the facility for other functions like city council meetings and even birthday parties. That is where the joint use comes in. This is an opportunity for the city recreation department to offer classes like they do in Antioch and Brentwood. Maybe some crafts and family oriented programs.

When the permeant building is done it will include an outside pool for classes. It will be 24,000 to 30,000 square feet.

"The possibilities are endless," Byrd said. "This is just what the community needs."

Roni Gehlke's column on life in Oakley appears each week in the Brentwood News.

Distributed by the Contra Costa Times

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