Aug 15, 2008 4:01 pm US/Eastern
YMCA Branch Opens In US Steel Building
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
There's no need to feel down because now there's not just one but two YMCAs downtown.
For people who work downtown, it's an added convenience.
"It gives everyone an opportunity who works in town to take a break from lunch, go work out, or relieve stress," says one young woman. "I think it's really super for the city." But she admits she wouldn't use the new Y, due to her current membership at the gym at One Oxford Center.
"There's nothing really anywhere near where I live at, so I think I'd like to check it out," says another young man working at Oxford Center.
An older gentleman prefers a different kind of exercise. "I walk to and from buses, and various parts of town."
If it's a YMCA you're looking for, there's a place you can go on the Boulevard of the Allies. And now...there's a place you can go at the U. S. Steel Tower. In fact, the new Y held its first spinning class at noon Friday.
"Looking at our existing facility on the Boulevard of the Allies, it just wasn't convenient for the majority of our corporate clients, but also for the downtown population," explains Eric Mann, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.
The new location is no accident.
"When we moved into this building, we were very excited about the potential of helping the Y be here," says Diane Holder, president of UPMC Health Plan.
The business partners behind this project hope it leads to a healthier region with a variety of classes and services, including weight management, nutrition, smoking cessation and physical therapy.
"If you live in Plum, and you work downtown, your family can go to the Y in Plum; you as a spouse can use this facility for one membership," Mann adds.
Eventually, the Y on the Boulevard of the Allies will close and be taken over by Point Park University. That will happen in summer 2009, when a new YMCA opens in Market Square.
Membership will range from $36 to $62 per month based on income. Scholarships are available for those who qualify for financial assistance.
This is a great opportunity for all of our viewers involved with America on the Move - another way to stay active and healthy while working downtown.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Featured Slideshows On KDKA.com
