Ribbon is cut for new basketball court by Chris Daniels, YMCA CEO includes, chamber staff member, Veronika Magnelind, Linda Daly, Chris Sierk, Michael Patchett, George Marsden, Lahni Zollinger, Amelia Epperson, Theresa Cull, Randal Ryti and Sandy Jones. Courtesy photo
First shot was taken by long time basketball player and member Bobby Beguin-Sanders, watched by Randall Ryti. Courtesy photo
First youth practice, The Family YMCA kicks off its Youth Basketball season with teams LA1 and LA3 practicing in the new gym. Courtesy photo
YMCA NEWS RELEASE
After weeks of anticipation, basketballs are bouncing again at The Family YMCA.
The Family YMCA celebrated the grand reopening of its newly renovated gymnasium with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in partnership with the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce, marking the completion of a major investment in one of the community’s most well-loved gathering places.
The newly installed gym floor features fresh court markings, creating a safer, more comfortable space for the thousands of children, families and adults who use the gym each year.
Throughout the year, the YMCA gym is home to youth and adult basketball, youth and adult volleyball, pickleball, fitness classes, community fundraisers, seasonal events and countless opportunities for people of all ages to come together. Thousands of community members walk through its doors each year, making it one of the busiest and most recognizable spaces at The Family YMCA.
For generations, the gym has been where children have played their first basketball game, friendships have formed on the volleyball court, neighbors have connected through pickleball, and families have gathered for events that strengthen our community.
“This gym has been a gathering place for generations of people in our community,” said Chris Daniels, CEO of The Family YMCA. “Whether it’s a child playing basketball for the first time, adults meeting for a game of pickleball, or longtime players who have spent decades on this court, this improvement is something our entire community can enjoy.”
The project is part of a larger series of facility improvements made possible through $335,750 in federal Community Project Funding secured through the Fiscal Year 2024 congressional appropriations process. Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández championed the project in the U.S. House of Representatives, while Senator Ben Ray Luján helped secure the funding in the U.S. Senate. The YMCA also recognizes Senator Martin Heinrich for supporting the FY2024 appropriations legislation and his continued commitment to investments that strengthen New Mexico communities.
“We are incredibly grateful to Congresswoman Leger Fernández, Senator Luján and Senator Heinrich for their support of federal investments that strengthen communities across New Mexico,” Daniels said. “These are improvements that would have been very difficult for our nonprofit organization to undertake on our own, and they will benefit thousands of people in our community for many years.”
The gym floor follows another major improvement completed last year through the same funding: the installation of air conditioning in the gymnasium. Together, these upgrades have transformed one of the YMCA’s busiest spaces into a safer, more welcoming environment where people of all ages can stay active year-round.
The YMCA also thanked the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce for helping commemorate the occasion.
“We appreciate the Chamber joining us to celebrate this investment in our community,” Daniels said. “The Chamber is a wonderful partner in recognizing organizations and businesses that continue investing in Los Alamos, and having them here made the celebration even more meaningful.”
For Daniels, the reopening represents more than a construction project.
“Seeing people step onto the new floor for the first time has been exciting,” he said. “There is a lot of history in this gym, and now we have a floor that’s ready for the next generation of YMCA memories.”
The gym is now open for basketball, volleyball, pickleball and all other YMCA programming.
For more information about The Family YMCA, membership or programs, visit www.laymca.org.
About The Family YMCA
The Family YMCA is a nonprofit committed to strengthening the Los Alamos community by connecting people to opportunities that help them learn, grow and thrive. Through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the YMCA serves children, families and older adults with programs that build healthier people and stronger communities.