After more than three years of renovations and reconstruction, the Ridgewood YMCA reopened its doors last week – with expanded services and facilities for the community.
Caitlin Moonesar, Membership & Healthy Living Director, said she was excited to continue serving the area with the renovated facility.
“We are so happy to finally have our facility up and running, so that we can continue to strengthen the foundations of community with our neighbors in Ridgewood and Glendale,” she said.
The structure, originally built in 1931 as a Queens County Courthouse, was donated to the YMCA as the Catalpa Center in 1965 in an effort to better serve the Ridgewood community.
In 2007, the Ridgewood YMCA closed its doors for the reconstruction and renovation project that would change the way it provides its various services to the community. Although the building was closed off to the public, members of the branch continued to run afterschool programs and day camps for children within the area.
Since its reopening, the facility has added computer labs, adolescent centers, a gymnasium, and more space for activities.
“Everyone is welcome at the Ridgewood YMCA, no matter where you come from,” said Moonesar. We’re in Ridgewood and very close to Glendale, but since the ‘M’ train is just two blocks away, we do have a lot of folks coming from Maspeth, Middle Village and Rego Park.”
The Ridgewood YMCA will offer sports leagues, nutrition programs and fitness workout sessions in the coming months. In April, the facility will be hosting the YMCA Healthy Kids Day, where participants learn about healthy lifestyles.
The branch will also offer youth development projects and social responsibility programs that are aimed at giving residents a better sense of community.
The Ridgewood YMCA is located at 69-02 64th Street. It is open Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. To learn about programming, call 212-912-2180.
