Y in Englewood makes big initial splash

About 1,800 show up on opening day

By Valryn Bush
For the Dayton Daily News

They came to splash, sweat, shoot hoops and meet with friends — but first they had to find a parking space.

The new $7.3 million YMCA at 1200 W. National Road, Englewood, opened Monday to an enthusiastic response, with about 1,800 people coming in the first day — and it's been a steady flow since.

But Jeff Jaehnen, executive director of the Kleptz Family YMCA, said it's been an upbeat, if busy, first week.

"I think it's gone really well," he said. "All the members have been tremendous about understanding we are starting up, still working things out and making changes."

Jaehnen said the new YMCA opened with 1,700 membership units sold — about 80 percent are family memberships, working out to about 5,000 individual members, overall.

Nick Wilson, 13, said he's been coming to exercise and play pool or Ping-Pong in the teen room, catching a ride with his mother.

"She runs and I do whatever," he said. "I like it. Before, I just went home and watched TV."

Jim and Fay Elliott, a Brookville couple in their 70s, joined because, "It looked like the thing for us to exercise and get fit," Elliott said. "We can bring the grandkids and it's a nice family thing."

Jaehnen said they will tweak activities as they learn who their members are.

While opening excitement may bring them in, the challenge is to keep them coming back.

"When you look at what each Y offers, they are all a little different," he said. "What we have here is a little different too, a lot of preschool classes, a lot of youth classes, including those not sports-related, a possible skateboard club, all based on what people told us."

Jaehnen said they have already identified an area they need to expand further.

"We're going to put more emphasis on preteen (ages 10 to 12) programming," he said. "We really need to do more for them, allowing them in more areas of the building and coming up with more special activities for that age group."

Preteen Cammy Bates, 11, calls it "a place for friends" and immediately sees someone else she knows there. "Hey, that's my teacher," she said.

Her teacher, Dave Frantz, 28, who teaches at Englewood Hills Elementary, and his wife Angie, 26, a teacher at Northmoor Elementary, joined with infant daughter, Emily, and like what they see.

"We checked out the nursery and I saw several students I taught working there," he said. "It's nice to know they are hiring good dependable young people. We feel very secure leaving her there. "

Jaehnen said the YMCA makes an effort to hire local young people and considers it one of their largest teen programs. Both the Frantzes said the new recreation center is a hot topic at school.

"I teach second grade," Mrs. Frantz said. "They're all talking to each other, saying 'Have you been yet? Are you going tonight?'"

Jaehnen said the YMCA's 12 week personal fitness program is designed to help those who might have some trepidation about using the high-tech fitness equipment get the most out of their membership.

Linked up with a fitness counselor, the member learns how to use a few pieces of equipment every few weeks, until they are comfortable with everything the workout room has to offer.

"When you look at all the people, machines, computers, it can be overwhelming," Jaehnen said. "By the end of the 12 weeks, you know how to use all the equipment and you're getting a good workout. The idea is by then, working out is becoming a habit."

Hanging out is fun, too.

"I like the idea the kids have some place to go to be safe and healthy -it's awesome," Mr. Frantz said. "A lot of kids are coming with their parents and that's good too, a place for families to come together even if they all go do their own thing."