Greater Joliet Area YMCA

GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

C.W. Avery, Central City, Galowich, Morris

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C.W. Avery Family YMCA Announces Updates to Daily Visitor Policy

To best meet the needs of Y members, we will be limiting daily visitors during the week this summer at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA. These restrictions will go into effect beginning Tuesday, May 31:

Monday-Friday:
Daily passes will be available for purchase between 5-10 p.m. ONLY.

Saturday and Sunday:
Daily passes will be available for purchase during open hours.

These restrictions will NOT apply to guests of YMCA members or individuals using a once-yearly web pass, which is available on the YMCA’s website. YMCA Facility Members enjoy unlimited guest passes (one guest per day) throughout the year so they can share the Y experience with family and friends. However, individual guests are limited to five visits per calendar year.

For additional information, please visit the Membership Desk during your next visit.

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Morris Community YMCA Selects Architect to Design New Full-Facility YMCA in Grundy County

The Morris Community YMCA is excited to announce that it has selected DesignGroup as the architect for its new full-facility YMCA in Grundy County. Construction of the new Y, which will be built in partnership with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers on land adjacent to Morris Grade School, could begin as early as next spring.

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Board of Directors, acting on recommendations from the Morris Capital Campaign Building Task Force and the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Facility Committee, unanimously approved the hiring of DesignGroup as the project’s architect and engineering firm at its April meeting. This announcement follows a months-long process that included requests for proposals from local and regional firms, extensive interviews, and ultimately the final selection of the Ohio and Pennsylvania-based firm.

“We are very excited to announce the hiring of DesignGroup as the architect for the new Morris Hospital YMCA,” said Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin. “Our Capital Campaign Leadership Cabinet, which is comprised of the most amazing community volunteers, has been hard at work since 2018 raising awareness and contributions in support of this project. This is a very big milestone for the Capital Campaign, bringing us one step closer to realizing our dream of building a new full-facility YMCA in Grundy County.”

For more than a decade, the Morris Community YMCA has been serving residents in Grundy County by offering programs in the areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. To further grow its impact in the community, the Y announced plans in 2018 for the development of a new 50,000-square-foot YMCA and healthcare center in partnership with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers. While the YMCA plans to open this new facility within the next several years, the size, scope, and timing will ultimately be determined by the generosity of the community in support of this project.

About the Y

As one of the nation’s leading nonprofit charities, the YMCA is committed to strengthening local communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. A branch of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA, the Morris Community YMCA brings families closer together, encourages good health, and fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests. Through its financial assistance and scholarship program, the YMCA works to fulfill its mission of ensuring that its programs are available to everyone and no one is turned away due to the inability to pay.

About DesignGroup

Founded in 1972, DesignGroup is an AIA Ohio Gold Medal architecture and design firm with offices in Columbus, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. DesignGroup focuses on education, civic + cultural, library, healthcare, workplace, and commercial projects. With numerous award-winning projects located throughout the United States, DesignGroup’s work is unmistakable, striking a balance of stunning contemporary architecture, thoughtful renovations and sustainable building practices. Civic responsibility is integral to DesignGroup’s philosophy; beyond bricks and mortar, the firm is deeply involved in community organizations and its design principals are recognized as thought leaders in design.

To learn more about the Morris Community YMCA’s Capital Campaign, please contact Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin at (815) 513-8080 or visit www.jolietymca.org.

Pictured above (L-R): Capital Campaign Leadership Cabinet Co-Chair and Greater Joliet Area YMCA Board Member Kevin Olson, Greater Joliet Area YMCA Chief Operating Officer Missy Durkin, and Capital Campaign Leadership Cabinet Co-Chair and Greater Joliet Area YMCA Board Chairman Guy Christensen. 

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Winter 1 Programming at the Morris Community YMCA Set to Begin January 18

On Friday, January 15 Governor Pritzker announced that Tier 2 mitigation efforts aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 have been lifted in Region 2 (Grundy County).

We are very excited to share that Winter 1 Programming at the Morris Community YMCA will get underway on Monday, January 18.

The following facility and program modifications will also go into effect beginning Monday, January 18, 2021:

UPDATED HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES

Masks and Face Coverings
Masks or face coverings will continue to be required at all times for members.

Facility and Group Exercise Class Reservations
YMCA members will be required to make reservations to use the wellness center. YMCA members will also be required to make reservations for group exercise classes. Capacity limits in line with Tier 2 mitigation efforts will remain in place.

Reservations can be made up to 24 hours in advance through the YMCA On the Go App, by calling the Y, or by visiting the Membership Desk.

As a reminder, all YMCA Facility Members receive free Basic access to the On the Go App included with their membership. Facility Members who haven’t already downloaded the YMCA On the Go App, will receive an invitation from the YMCA later this afternoon to download the App for free. This email will be sent to the email address you have listed on your membership account in Daxko. Please be sure to check your junk and spam folders for this activation email.

Kids Corner 
Kids Corner will reopen on Monday, January 18 at the Morris Community YMCA. Kids and staff in Kids Corner will be required to wear masks or face coverings at all times.

New Hours – Effective January 18, 2021

Monday-Thursday:
4:30-6:30 p.m.

Friday
8-10 a.m.

Open to kids ages 3-10 years old.

PROGRAM UPDATES

Winter 1 Programming Will Begin on Monday, January 18
Registration is underway for the YMCA’s Winter 1 Session. Program fees will be prorated to reflect the shortened three-week session.

The following Winter 1 session-based programs will resume the week of January 18:

  • Youth sports classes
  • Specialty group fitness classes
  • Youth enrichment classes

Group Exercise Classes
All in-person group exercise classes will resume on Monday, January 18. Our health and wellness team will also continue to offer a number of virtual classes in the coming weeks. These schedules will be available on our website and in the On the Go App.

A catalog of more than 90 group exercise classes is also available here. Y Members will also find free workouts in the On the Go App.

LET’S WORK TOGETHER
We thank our members in advance for their continued cooperation as we work together to keep our members and staff safe and healthy. For more information on the Morris Community YMCA’s health and safety guidelines, please click here.

Because this situation is ever-changing, please watch your email, follow the Y on social media, and visit our website for additional updates.

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Updated Reservation Policy for Greater Joliet Area YMCA Pool Facilities

To ensure more members have the opportunity to utilize the pools at Greater Joliet Area YMCA facilities, we will be making some slight adjustments to the pool reservation process. Full details can be found below.

POOL RESERVATION PROCESS

These changes will go into effect on Monday, December 7 at the C.W. Avery, Galowich, and Smith Family YMCAs:

  • Beginning on December 7, members will be limited to one pool reservation* per day.
  • Lap lane reservations will be extended to 55 minutes, and may still be made up to 24 hours in advance through the YMCA On the Go App, by visiting the Membership Desk, or by calling the Y.
  • Reservations for the Family Pool at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA will also be extended to 55 minutes, and may still be made up to 24 hours in advance.

*Members looking to extend their pool time are encouraged to speak to a lifeguard or reservation specialist when they arrive at the pool. If additional pool time is available on a given day, we will do our best to accommodate member requests.

NEW RESERVATION TIMES

Beginning on Monday, December 7, we will also be adding new lap lane reservation times at the C.W. Avery and Galowich Family YMCAs:

  • At the C.W. Avery Family YMCA, we will be offering a new reservation time from 9-9:55 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • At the Galowich Family YMCA, we will be adding two new reservation times: 1:30-2:25 p.m. and 2:30-3:25 p.m. Monday through Friday.

We’d like to thank members in advance for the continued cooperation, support and understanding as we work together to keep our members and staff safe and healthy.

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Morris Community YMCA Shares Plans for Development of New Facility

For more than a decade, the Morris Community YMCA has been serving residents in Grundy County by offering programs in the areas of Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. To further grow its impact in the community, the Morris Community YMCA announced plans for the development of a new full-facility on DuPont Avenue. Initial plans for the new YMCA facility include an aquatics center, a gymnasium, meeting and gathering spaces, a state- of-the-art fitness facility, group exercise studios, a demonstration kitchen, and outdoor space for summer camps, youth sports, and before and after school programming. 

The YMCA is excited to partner with the residents of Grundy County to facilitate the grassroots efforts needed to open a full-facility YMCA in Morris. For the past year, a Capital Campaign Leadership Cabinet, which is comprised of local YMCA volunteers, has been working diligently behind the scenes to attract major investors and strategic partners to the project. 

While the YMCA hopes to open the new facility within the next several years, the size, scope and timing will ultimately be determined by the generosity of the community in support of this project. The Capital Campaign recently received a major boost thanks to the announcement of a lead investment from the City of Morris. 

“We are honored and very humbled to receive the news of the City’s support for this project,” said Morris Community YMCA Executive Director Missy Durkin. “The City has been by our side since we first opened our doors in 2015 on Wauponsee Street. With the City’s support and the dedication of our amazing volunteers, donors and community partners, we are one step closer to expanding our footprint in Grundy County,” added Durkin. 

The YMCA is also excited to confirm that it will continue its partnership with another prominent community organization in its future facility. Since opening its temporary facility in downtown Morris, the Morris Community YMCA has been working collaboratively with Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers to enhance the health and wellness of Grundy County residents. Together, the Y and the Hospital have provided Grundy County residents with access to unparalleled health and wellness programs and a wide variety of programming in the renovated facility. Although details regarding the partnership are still in the planning phase, the two organizations are committed to working together in a future joint facility. 

“The Y is a proven, respected organization with a strong family focus, making it a wonderful partner for Morris Hospital,” said Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers President & CEO Mark Steadham. “Over the last several years, we have been able to work together to extend the continuum of care for our patients after they leave the hospital by connecting them with YMCA programs and services that will help them continue to improve their overall health. Our unique partnership is a win-win for the community, and we are looking forward to working with the YMCA for many years to come,” added Steadham. 

In 2016, the Morris Community YMCA received a 13.5-acre land donation from the families who own and operate “D” Construction, Inc. Located just west of Morris Grade School on DuPont Avenue, the site will be the future home of Grundy County’s first full-facility YMCA. Surrounded by property that is planned for residential development, the donated land is located adjacent to the existing baseball and softball fields and park land owned by the City of Morris. Its close proximity to the school and area residential neighborhoods makes the site an ideal location for a future YMCA facility. 

“Like so many Grundy County residents, I am very anxious to see a full-facility YMCA open in our community,” said City of Morris Mayor Dick Kopczick. “Whether the Y is providing affordable child care, teaching kids how to be safe in and around water, or providing a place for local residents to feel welcomed and engaged, I continue to be amazed by the impact this organization has had on our community each and every day. I know a full-facility YMCA will be a wonderful asset for Morris and Grundy County, and the City of Morris is proud to join municipalities across the country that have invested in the YMCA as a way to support and strengthen their communities,” added Kopczick. 

“The inspiring generosity shown by the City of Morris, and the continued commitment demonstrated by Morris Hospital, two prominent partners in our community, has bolstered the work of our Capital Campaign Leadership Cabinet,” added Missy Durkin. “With each day, we are excited to continue to tell our story and work toward meeting our goal of opening a new full-facility YMCA in Grundy County.” 

In the coming months, the Capital Campaign Leadership Cabinet will continue its work to secure additional support for this project. As updates become available and milestones in the effort are met, the Morris Community YMCA looks forward to sharing the news with its members and the Grundy County community at-large. 

As one of the nation’s leading nonprofit charities, the YMCA is committed to strengthening local communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. A branch of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA, the Morris Community YMCA brings families closer together, encourages good health, and fosters connections through fitness, sports, fun and shared interests. Through its financial assistance and scholarship program, the YMCA works to fulfill its mission of ensuring that its programs are available to everyone and no one is turned away due to the inability to pay. 

 

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