October 11 Update:
With the updates to the HVAC system comes…new spaces! This room was previously filled with mechanical equipment to support the previous forty-year-old system. Our modern system requires less interior space. Any ideas of what this space is becoming?
The former racquetball courts have been joined together by the removal of the cinderblock wall between them. This area is going to be a new, first floor Group Exercise studio. You can see the progress from about 30 days ago to recently.
September 27 Update:
Many renovation projects focus only on shifts in a floor plan or cosmetic details, but this project goes to the very bones of the building. All of the major mechanical systems–plumbing, electrical, and HVAC–are being replaced or upgraded to modern standards. Progress is moving forward with the new HVAC system as the new interior ductwork is being hung from the ceilings.
Exciting developments are happening with the replacement of the building’s roof. You can see that old roofing material has been removed and first steps towards replacing it have started.
Hard Hat Tours
Have you ever wondered what happens at a construction site? Curious about the work behind the pictures we share of the renovation? Join our Executive Director, Ken Pettigrew, for a Hard Hat Tour of the YMCA REACH Center at Winston Lake while it is under construction. This guided tour will provide you with a behind-the-scenes look at the improvements and changes being made to the building. We have tours throughout October. Each tour is one hour and each group is limited to five (5) people. If you are interested, please sign up by clicking here today!
September 13 Update:
Centennial Celebration
Faithful members and friends, both young and young at heart, had an amazing time reminiscing about the early days of the Y, connecting on recent experiences and dreaming about the future as we look forward to the transformation into the YMCA REACH Center at Winston Lake.
Over 200 folks took this time to hear from YMCA and community leaders who noted the impact of this special community resource. The Honorable Denise Hartsfield and Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough shared their recollections of how the Y shaped their lives. In my role as Executive Director, I led a meaningful passing of the baton from the oldest living members (93 and 94 years old) of the Y to a 10-year-old student who attends the Y as part of the GIDE program. The Triad Cultural Arts Center graciously shared their “Green Book” exhibit for the evening, highlighting the Y’s role in that resource for people of color in the mid-20th century.
We were thrilled to have so many to spend their Friday evening with us as we celebrated the first 100 years of this branch, originally formed to serve the African-American community in Winston-Salem. Thanks to the leaders who worked with forethought and passion, the Y has become known for the way it embraces and serves the entire community.
As has been noted, the YMCA REACH Center is now under construction, with an estimated completion date of first quarter 2025. We shared a brief video Friday night that highlights some of the construction work in progress at the branch. CLICK HERE to see our “behind the scenes”.
Partner Highlight: Goodwill
What is Goodwill of NWNC?
Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina (Goodwill NWNC) is a nonprofit organization that has served the community since 1926. Through the sale of donated items in our stores, we fund employment and training programs that help people find hope, opportunity, and jobs. We are recognized nationally as one of the most efficient charities - channeling 87% of revenues into our mission and sustainability; enabling us to serve more than 49,500 people each year in Northwest NC. Goodwill NWNC creates opportunities for people to enhance their lives through training, workforce development services, and collaboration with other community organizations. We currently have over 1,100 team members throughout operations within our organization.
Why are you excited to provide services at the YMCA REACH Center?
Goodwill is excited to provide services because of the potential impact on this traditionally marginalized community in East Winston. A significant pillar of our organization is Community Leadership, and by partnering with the YMCA of Northwest NC, we will be building upon that pillar. One of our goals as an organization is to assist individuals with upward mobility through access to education, careers, and resources to help with sustainability. For each individual within a community that we provide services to that leads to upward mobility, it is a win for everyone involved in that journey, including the partners, but most importantly, the individual who is receiving services.
What services do you plan to offer at the YMCA REACH Center?
Goodwill will offer many services centered around education and career planning, along with helping individuals access resources that support their sustainability while receiving the services mentioned earlier. Some of those education services consist of assessing an individual’s current skill set and interests, assisting with financial aid and high-skill credentials, and developing goals with solid objectives. Regarding career planning, we will provide services around cover letter and resume preparation, developing solid online profiles, and mock interviews. The most instrumental service will be helping individuals access resources that support barrier mitigation.
Hard Hat Tours
Have you ever wondered what happens at a construction site? Curious about the work behind the pictures we share of the renovation? Join our Executive Director, Ken Pettigrew, for a Hard Hat Tour of the YMCA REACH Center at Winston Lake while it is under construction. This guided tour will provide you with a behind-the-scenes look at the improvements and changes being made to the building. We have a few spots left in September. Each tour is one hour and each group is limited to five (5) people. If you are interested, please sign up by clicking here today!
August 30 Update:
Construction Update
An important element of this renovation is the updating of the mechanical systems throughout the building. Here you can see several of the trenches that have been cut and hammered up to replace plumbing lines throughout the building. Many of these lines, being original to the building, are past their lifespan and must be replaced.
The cabana-style locker rooms are taking shape, but it is only noticeable through the plumbing rough-ins emerging from the dirt and floor of the former family locker rooms. These pipes indicate the supply and drains for the cabanas–each containing a shower, toilet, and sink behind a locked door.
Hard Hat Tours
Have you ever wondered what happens at a construction site? Curious about the work behind the pictures we share of the renovation? Join our Executive Director, Ken Pettigrew, for a Hard Hat Tour of the YMCA REACH Center at Winston Lake while it is under construction. This guided tour will provide you with a behind-the-scenes look at the improvements and changes being made to the building. Our first tours will be September 5 at 10:00am and 1:30pm, as we prepare for the Centennial Celebration. Each tour is one hour and each group is limited to five (5) people. If you are interested, please sign up by clicking here today!
August 16 Update:
As demolition nears completion, you can begin to see the spaces that will be transformed into new and updated facilities for our members and the community. One of the most exciting elements of the renovation is the expanded lobby area. The size and scale of this new community gathering space can be seen here:
This space is where the new Novant Health clinic will be located, along with two new classrooms for use by community partners and our members. This clinic will provide primary care and is the only location in East Winston to offer imaging.
August 2 Update:
The YMCA REACH Center at Winston Lake is now fully under renovation. Everything is proceeding according to plan: spaces are being opened up, plumbing is being updated, and so much more. Stay tuned for more updates as we proceed!
Save the Date!
We invite you and your family to join us at BioTech Place at Innovation Quarter to celebrate 100 years of the Patterson Avenue and Winston Lake Family YMCAs!
Friday, September 6
5:00-8:00pm
575 N. Patterson Avenue
Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served.
RSVP to Amelia Summers at a.summers@ymcanwnc.org
July 19 Update:
Renovations Are Underway!
The YMCA REACH Center at Winston Lake is officially under renovation! Staff and volunteers spent the week of July 1 preparing the branch for construction and its exciting future as a hub for our members and the broader community. Fitness equipment was moved, HVAC ducts from the gym were removed, and the lobby was cleared to make way for the exciting gathering space of the future.
Group Exercise Classes
We are happy that as we temporarily suspend operations at the branch, we have a great partnership with Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church enabling us to continue offering our Silver Sneakers, Group Exercise, and Active Older Adults classes and events in our community and with the community built at Winston Lake.
At this time Group Exercise classes, except for cycle, have been relocated to:
Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church
4616 Baux Mountain Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Group Exercise classes will continue at their current scheduled times at the new location. If you would like to continue taking cycle classes, please consult the class schedule at another of the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina locations.
Wellness equipment and aquatic offerings will also be available at any of the other YMCA of NWNC locations.
Update as of June 27:
The renovation of the YMCA REACH Center at Winston Lake is beginning and we want to share some additional information with you. In early planning, we were determined to sustain operations through the early stages of construction, so that we could provide a seamless transition from the branch to a temporary facility in the community. We received word that one of our contractors was prepared to begin work much earlier than anticipated and if we were unready, it would be months before we were able to schedule with them again, delaying the overall construction timeline.
It became necessary for us to pivot and accelerate our plans for the transition. We began our search for temporary facilities in April, and while the search has ultimately been fruitful, it was complex and slow. The uncertainty that has surrounded this element of the renovation process was unfortunate and frustrating for all, and we are thrilled that it is now resolved.
We are happy that as we prepare to suspend operations at the branch on July 1, we have a great partnership with Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church enabling us to continue offering our Silver Sneakers, Group Exercise, and Active Older Adults classes and events in our community and with the community built at Winston Lake.
At this time, Group Exercise classes, except for cycle, will be relocated to:
Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church
4616 Baux Mountain Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Beginning July 8, Group Exercise classes will continue at their current scheduled times at the new location. If you would like to continue taking cycle classes, please consult the class schedule at another of the YMCA of NWNC locations.
Wellness equipment and aquatic offerings will also be available at any of the other YMCA of NWNC locations. Please consult our hours of operation.
As a reminder, if you have a locker rental, please be sure to remove all items from your locker by June 29.
The REACH Center Summer Learning Academy (SLA) will relocate to the Fulton Family YMCA beginning July 1. Transportation from East Winston will continue to be provided as it has been in the prior weeks of the program.
Additional information is available on the YMCA of NWNC website and by opting in to the REACH Center construction updates email list here.
If you are interested in a conversation about this process with a member of the Y staff, feel free to contact us.
Update as of June 25:
We are excited to announce that construction on the YMCA REACH Center at Winston Lake will begin on July 1, 2024! This is an exciting milestone in the history of this branch and for the East Winston community.
As previously shared, construction operations will require a temporary suspension of services at the YMCA REACH Center until the project is completed. This temporary suspension will begin on July 1, 2024. On this date, and until the building reopens, all wellness, membership, youth development, and aquatics operations will relocate to temporary facilities or, as always, be available to you at another of the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina facilities.
The current Group Exercise schedule will be temporarily suspended for the week of July 1 and will resume on Monday, July 8.
An additional communication with further information concerning the relocation of any operation to temporary facilities will be sent in the coming week.
If you have a locker rental, please be sure to remove all items from your locker by June 29.
The REACH Center Summer Learning Academy (SLA) will relocate to the Fulton Family YMCA beginning July 1.
Additional information is available below and by opting in to the REACH Center construction updates email list here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the timeline for construction?
We anticipate work on the roof and HVAC systems to begin mid-June. Total time to complete all renovations is estimated to be 8-10 months.
Will construction require temporary closure of the facility?
While roof and preliminary HVAC work begins, the facility overall will remain open with various areas closing for safety purposes. When plumbing replacement begins, the building will need to close temporarily for 6-8 months.
What is the plan for group exercise and SilverSneakers® classes during construction?
We are in the process of identifying neighborhood-based venues for the relocation of group exercise and SilverSneakers® classes that will enable us to offer as many classes as possible, along with additional activities for our Active Older Adults (Lunch and Learns, birthday celebrations, etc.), during the construction period.
What about the whirlpool, sauna and steam room?
While not included in this first phase of work, there is movement towards raising additional funds to move either the sauna, steam room, or both, to the pool deck. Their location is a matter of member safety. On the pool deck, there will be a lifeguard available to monitor and ensure everyone’s safety. The whirlpool will not be an available amenity.
Will there still be a pool?
Yes! The pool is an important asset in this community and will remain part of the building and our programming.
What other branches are available?
Members have access to any Y in the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina association. Depending on your needs and desires, multiple branches may be a good fit for you. Visit ymcanwnc.org for more information on other Y locations and ymcanwnc.org/schedules to check class schedules. You can also download the YMCA of NWNC app and check the class schedule there.
Nearby Y locations include:
Jerry Long Family YMCA
Kernersville Family YMCA
Robinhood Road Family YMCA
William G. White, Jr. Family YMCA
How much wellness and programming space will remain when partners move into the REACH Center?
Renovations will increase the amount of wellness and programming space at the REACH Center. The wellness center will remain in its current location and will get a new ceiling and fresh paint. The group exercise room will remain in the same place and the gym will also receive fresh paint and refinished flooring. Programming space will remain in the multipurpose room adjacent to the playground and upstairs. Racquetball courts will become one room available for both group exercise and other programming.
How will we receive updates during construction?
This website will always be the best source of information. We are also working on a bi-weekly email that you can opt-in to receive (click here). We will provide multiple ways to reach out for updates and information regarding the progress of the branch, alternative locations and more. You can also send your questions via email: memberservice@ymcanwnc.org.
How did the idea of the REACH Center come about?
Sustainability, from all aspects, was the driving focus of the REACH Center. As the building ages and concerns for the effectiveness of the branch in a traditional membership model were considered, conversations about community collaboration and an expansive service model became a way to provide security for the ongoing service of the Winston Lake Y in the East Winston community.
How have you received input from the community?
We engaged an independent consultant to survey the community and established a Community Advisory Board.
