Proposed Sewickley Valley YMCA expansion project to boost its healthy aging programs

Ed Papst has worked out at the Sewickley Valley YMCA for the past seven years in an effort to stave off Father Time and a progressive disorder.

The Moon Township resident was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2014. It’s a brain disorder that affects the nervous system and parts of the body controlled by nerves.

Papst, 63, said it can be very difficult to tie shoes, button shirts, get in and out of cars and chairs and do other tasks.

He was able to find some relief at the fitness facility along Blackburn Road in Sewickley.

YMCA Wellness Director Adriane Stoner said they offer a variety of healthy aging programs, including one that has scientifically proven exercises that improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s.

It includes stretching, cardio work and a focus on functional movements such as squatting, pushing, pulling and related moves for every day life.

“Before I started coming to these classes, I was having a lot of problems and I could feel myself getting worse,” Papst said. “I think the exercises have really helped it slow down for me. … It becomes almost like your job fighting Parkinson’s.”

Parkinson’s can also impact a person’s mental health. The classes provide an opportunity to interact with others going through the same circumstances.

Papst is one of about 20 people in the class offered in the mornings a couple days a week with instructors Christine Steinmetz and Mike Winterbauer.

Winterbauer has been described as a gentle giant while Steinmetz is more of a drill sergeant. They team up to teach the same class.

“The main thing is to get moving,” Winterbauer said. “As long as you walk a couple steps a day, it’s better than sitting in a chair or sitting at home.

“Moving around and getting the heart beating is big now a days. We want them in our class, of course, but as long as they are moving around they are beating the odds.”

YMCA officials hope to expand the healthy aging programs with a new addition.

Project development

Sewickley Council voted July 11 to approve a land development application for a 2,500-square-foot expansion project.

“The YMCA is such a central asset to Sewickley and the Quaker Valley,” said council President Cynthia Mullins. “They are a good neighbor and a good partner in our community. I have belonged to the ‘Y’ for 20 years and have used the track, weight machines and pool. It’s comforting knowing the ‘Y’ is expanding its capacity to help us look after our health and well-being.”

YMCA officials have been working on the project for at least 16 months.

Project cost is estimated between $450,000 and $500,000.

YMCA Chief Executive Officer Trish Hooper said it is being paid for through fundraising.

Wildman Chalmers is the project architect. Construction, once all permits are received, is expected to take between six to seven months.

“It’s not going to look like downstairs where we have the treadmills and the weight stacks and all that kind of stuff,” Hooper said. “This is more of a functional fitness space. It’s using your body weight. It’s using smaller pieces of equipment like bands, exercise balls, light resistance to be able to improve your overall physical functionality.

“It’s not about burning 800 calories on a treadmill. It’s not about being able to do a bunch of dead lifts.

”It’s really about how you keep your body moving and functional for you. So, the equipment in there is different. … I think this is a good reminder that aging in a healthy way is really important, and we need to support people in that process. That’s something that the ‘Y’ can do very well.”

The addition will be built a several feet away from the Y’s Wellness Center, which is currently under construction.

Crews from McKeesport-based TBI Contracting are replacing the windows around the center’s track and in the process of installing a new roof.

The estimated $650,000 project began May 22 and is expected to be completed mid- to late-August.

Hooper said they also selected TBI for the expansion project due to the familiarity with their work.

The expansion will blend in with the center and have similar roof lining and bricks. It’s not expected to impact the adjacent field and playground area.

The healthy aging programs will be moved from the gymnasium to the addition once it is built.

Steinmetz said that will enable them to focus more on participants and maximize exercise time.

“Right now when I go into the gym, I have to set things up,” she said. “This will (change that). The equipment’s there and everything’s ready to go. It will save time where I don’t have to take time to set up. We can get in there and get going with the class.

”It’s wonderful to have an addition space that we can use, not just for Parkinson’s but for our other programs, too.”

Stoner said the addition will also allow the YMCA to bring back its cancer wellness classes, which are designed for people coming out of cancer treatments. The program is subsidized by the YMCA and space is very limited. Other related programs are also in development.

More information about YMCA programs is available at sewickleyymca.org.