Courthouse, YMCA open new facilities
The Northeast Jackson YMCA is under construction in the old CVS location at DeVille Plaza
Interested in finding a place to work out in northeast Jackson, but not sure of the options? Then five may just be your lucky number.
The Metropolitan YMCAs of Jackson recently opened its newest branch, in DeVille Plaza. The Northeast YMCA is the latest addition in improving the fitness options in this part of the city. Courthouse Racquet and Fitness is in the process of returning to downtown Jackson, as part of the Jackson Place project currently under construction.
“I’m getting to start with brand-new everything, and that’s just been great,” said Meg Outlaw, executive director of the Northeast YMCA branch. “We have gotten, I think, the top equipment that you can get, as far as cardio and strength. But it’s a little nerve-wracking because I have to make the numbers work, too.
“But I feel like this area is ripe for the YMCA to have a presence here. We have not been in this area in the past and I think there’s a need for it. We’ve gotten such a positive response from the residents. We’ve had several people join sight unseen.”
The new facility is not just limited to that one location either. YMCA was also approached by the Briarwood pool in the area about taking over its activities, so summertime in northeast Jackson can be centered around the pool as well as the fitness center.
The expectation is that this branch will appeal to families, and the activity planning is being done with that in mind. Included in the new facility will be a “kid zone” for those ages 8-13 with options ranging from basketball to Dance, Dance Revolution to an old-school arcade. There will also be a child watch area for those too young for the kid zone, so parents can bring their children with them and work out in peace and without interruption.
“I was very happy about it because it’s right by the new home we just purchased. It’s going to be very convenient for me,” said longtime YMCA member Jennifer Hardy. “It will be fun to go over there in the evenings. During the summer, with the kids at home, it won’t be such an ordeal to get them over there and entertain them. It will be a lot easier for me. Sometimes, in the summer, I just don’t go (because of the kids), but now they’ll have activities to do while I exercise.”
The Courthouse, being in the heart of downtown, will appeal to those looking to squeeze in an exercise program around their work schedule.
“This will be our top-of-the-line facility,” Courthouse President Johnny Black said. “This completes what our customers want.”
The facility will be the only commercial fitness center in downtown Jackson. It is slated to open in October.
While the Courthouse and the YMCA face different issues, with one building anew and another renovating, both are addressing geographic areas they see as in need of fitness options.
“That particular location came available and the Y did not have a presence in that particular area of Jackson,” said Jennifer Corson with the area YMCA marketing department. “It just made for a good fit and definitely the right move for us, because too many things fell into place for us too easily.”
Because of that, the new locations are expected to be popular.
“I think that, when we open these doors, I think we’re going to have a swarm of people that want to be a part of this,” Outlaw said.
