Oxford’s YMCA is currently located off of South Lamar with most members being Oxford residents. The YMCA is open to anyone in the community and offers personal training for members over the age of 16. There has been discussion of building a new facility in hopes to better serve the Oxford community.
Operations Director Leslie Kennedy said survey results will determine the specific needs of the community and they are currently in the preliminary stage for the new YMCA. She also mentioned that the new YMCA will likely be set up differently if the results from the feasibility study favor a larger facility, and the funds are raised to build it.
“I have had to leave several times because there was no open treadmill,” junior business marketing major and YMCA member Madison Chesshire said. “I would be excited for more treadmills as well as more room in general for ab workouts.”
Whether the building will be moved or not has yet to be decided, and the building owner will determine who leases from them in the future if the building were to move. There are high hopes of more business if the new YMCA is built, as it will be offering more services to customers. The new facility would include more amenities and programs, which will require more staffing.
Kennedy explained that some ideas of a new YMCA would feature amenities similar to those in the Olive Branch facilities. These amenities would include an indoor and outdoor pool, a fitness area, gym space, among other things.
“Wishes for the new Y are to better serve the community, offer programs to benefit the community and to complement existing programs,” Kennedy said.
