With a little fanfare and a lot of enthusiasm, the Upper Perkiomen Valley YMCA welcomed the community to its new 72,000-sq.-ft. facility Friday.

                Area residents, business owners and community leaders were among hundreds of people at the Quakertown Avenue, Upper Hanover building for a ribbon-cutting which officially kicked off offerings at the location.

                "Yay, it's amazing!" said Luanne Stauffer, president of the Upper Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce, whose name, along with her husband's, mark a sponsor plaque in the two-story main lobby.  "As I sat up there and looked around and see all the wonderful people of our community, we have so much to be thankful for.  It really is a community that cares."

                "The vibe is absolutely amazing.  It's more than people ever thought it would be," said Matthew Student, the facility's program director.  "We've been picking up jaws off the floor all day."

                About 40 people were waiting at front door of the building Friday morning, Student said, to be among the first to usher in the new era at the Y.  They exercised in the wellness center complete with cardiovascular conditioning and strength training equipment, took in the oversized gym with a basketball court, gymnastics equipment and a volleyball court, a child care center, an indoor running and walking track and several exercise studios.

                But perhaps the most highly-anticipated part of the facility is the natatorium, complete with a 25-yard, six-lane competitive lap pool, a three-lane recreational pool and a family fun pool with zero depth entry for very young children, special needs members and older adults, as well as a waterslide and whirlpool.  It also includes secure men's, women's and family locker rooms.

                The $18 million facility will also feature two large outdoor pools, still under construction and set to open Memorial Day weekend.  A dry sauna is also set to be installed this week. 

                "It's so nice to see the community turnout," said Upper Perkiomen Y's Director of Sales and Marketing Corinne Guntz, who noted the natatorium will be home to a year-round swim team in addition to swim lessons and water fitness classes for all ages.  "Every dollar made a difference here.  So I think it's fantastic.  With all the time, prayer, effort and love and support, how can you go wrong?"

                Betty Kazmiroski of Upper Hanover said she is looking to keep her aging body fit using the new facility.

                "This is fabulous, a dream.  It's conveniently located to where we are and they offer so much," she said.  "The staff has been very helpful and I'm dying for the water.  There are a lot of little things that you really enjoy because it's well thought out."   

                "I couldn't be more excited to be here today," said Charlene Krause of East Greenville, who said she works out daily.  "Like everybody else I've been waiting forever.  But now that it's here it's the perfect thing for the valley."

                Indeed, the high turnout Friday was testament to the community's eagerness for a facility of its kind in the area.  That venture, which began in 1956 when the William and Winnie Kistler and Ernest and Helen Bitting families of Upper Hanover jointly donated a 48-acre parcel of land at the location, was officially realized Friday after two capital campaigns, funding from parent Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA and many, many years of work.

                According to Upper Perkiomen Valley YMCA Executive Director Mike Tannous, the facility signed 244 new memberships Friday through Sunday, which represents 564 people.  Their goal is to up their membership they carried from the annex in Pennsburg, 3,600, to 9,000 by the end of the summer.

                "We want people to know they can be members of this beautiful facility," Tannous said.  "It offers so much for everyone.  We want people here.  To triple or quadruple in size, that's how we'll know we are doing our job."

                Tannous said the local branch offers free memberships for seventh-graders in the Upper Perkiomen Valley School District, as well as free memberships for fifth- through twelfth-graders enrolled in the Y Achievers program.  It also has an "open door" policy which gives financial aid for individuals and families who demonstrate need.

                He emphasized while the facility has so much to offer, it is not an elite "swim and gym."  Tannous said he hopes to see the Y partner with the school district to reach kids and partner with The Open Link or the Upper Perkiomen Valley Library to possibly open a satellite office.

                "In every possible way we don't want to be an entity unto ourselves, but a partner with the community," he noted. 

                For more information on the Upper Perkiomen Valley YMCA, call (215)679-9622 or visit https://philaymca.org/branches/upper-perkiomen-valley/.