Plans for $8 million in new facilities at the Community YMCA on Maple Avenue in Red Bank have raised concerns about traffic safety, according to today's Asbury Park Press.
The newspaper reports that the Y's expansion project
would add a family-friendly pool and indoor-outdoor sprinkler park; a six-lane lap pool; a modern gym with spectator space and a new indoor track; facilities for a fitness and wellness center; a spinning room; a Wii room; additional parking; a new lobby; and a seniors-only area.
The plan also would renovate the existing teen center, senior citizen and children's program areas and modernize the locker rooms.
In a joint letter, though, residents have called on the borough to link approvals to traffic and parking improvements at the site.
From the article:
Traffic concerns have been raised in a letter to the board signed as "Red Bank residents" who want adequate on-site parking and elimination of on-street parking on Route 35-Maple Avenue.
Plans are to increase parking on the 5.9-acre YMCA site from 152 to 231 spaces.
The letter also asks for two full-width driveways to and from Route 35 to replace an existing single-width driveway and to correct limited-sight distance for drivers pulling out of the Y.
Plans call for modifying the existing Route 35 driveway to accommodate two-way traffic and improving the Pearl Street entrance to "enhance vehicular flow."
A traffic study for the YMCA calls for having a pick-up and drop-off zone on the YMCA property and echoes the residents' concern that parked vehicles on Route 35 "may result in some interference" of drivers' ability to see up and down Route 35.
Better to expand the Y,than to build more condo's.
You can keep the Y and their ridiculously high ala cart prices…..The Atlantic Club is a better value, cleaner, and fewer breeders with munchkins…….if you know what I mean. I gave up on the Y a few years ago when they started charging to use the outdoor smoking area.
The Y is not a scuzzy pickup joint for formerly rich divorcees. The "ridiculously high" prices make it possible for poor kids to use the Y.
"and to correct limited-sight distance for drivers pulling out of the Y." Huh? You can only pull out of the Y onto Pearl St.
Kudos to the Y for this expansion. It's already a great area facility. Sure the prices are a little high. But the services they offer are underscored in the local community. The new facilities sound wonderful. I've often wondered why the Red Bank Youth Center can't be incoorporated into the YMCA?
Sorry smith, I already subsidize the poor kids through taxes. Smith, "formerly rich divorcees"??? I thought I saw your wife there last week……cougahhhhhhhh, take a pill smith, I was just joking, All kidding aside, the Y has become very expensive.
get ready to dole out the free memberships for our elected officials if you want get this one moving
Couldn't have been her, AlexanderA— we've never been rich.
Wow - in this lousy economy, the Y is expanding? Where are they getting the money? Sounds like maybe a gift from the borough - maybe they're using the money from 51 Monmouth Street. Good to know that while my taxes are going up again, the not-for-profits are expanding. I can't afford the Y - maybe I should get a non-profit number and talk to the Mercedes.
At the next council meeting I am going to propose that we put somebody on the corner of Broad and Waverly to say "Soccer Moms, start your engines." In the middle of the block, a pit stop geared for oversized SUVs, and somebody holding a checkered flag at the corner of Waverly and Maple. And we should always have EMTs on the scene like they do at the Indianapolis 500. I am going to sell beer to the spectators who come to watch all the crashes. For the grand opening of the new Y, our former Mayor and our current Mayor can kick off the festivities with a Mercedes race down Waverly….. "Mayors, start your engines"
The expansion of the Y sounds like a great idea. As we say in Red Bank, "safety second"
Eliminating the parking on Maple around the Y would be a huge first step in making the traffic flow safer. I live on Leroy, and it's very challenging (and unsafe) to make a left onto Maple on the weekends because you absolutely cannot see the north-bound traffic due to all the parked cars. I hope they mean to eliminate the parking on both the north-bound and south-bound sides.
Otherwise, Ditch, I'll be sure to stop over for that beer!
As a resident on Route 35/Maple Avenue near the YMCA, I don't want to see the on-street parking go away. While I have a driveway, it is often convenient to park on the street for brief periods, e.g., to avoid backing out of the driveway onto Route 35. I occasionally would like to have my guests park on the street as well. Unlike the businesses/offices that surround my house, I don't have a parking lot in my back yard.
"breeders with munchkins"…wow. Harsh.
Somebody has a little issue with mommy.
“breeders with munchkins” LordJohn senses some deep seated issues. Alexander, where is the tolerance, the hope the change?
Where do you think your customers come from for your home decorating business?
Ditch, you forgot to include a cell phone charging station for those soccer moms. LordJohn, (hands on hips rolling eyes) so you should know…. Eye no longah dekarate, ughhhhhh……now eye do haair. Puff Puff, muy specialty is BIG staten EYElandT haair….its all the rage again doncha know. Some of muy fuynist work can be seen upstaihrs at buena seras aftah 10 most nuyghts. Be carefull(do not attempt this if you are wheel chair bound) when crossing the street there too Tryingk to get muy new shop openedt at the formah stowah that soldt nothingk location. Thinkingk a cawllingk it cougaaahh cuts. Sadly eye can't seem to come up with the dorayme for the pawrkingk offsets. Andt the mayah aint got no haair (he does have fancy glasses though) so a trade off aint gonna work fa me. Ughhhhhhhh….
Sounds like a great plan - just please, please don't let it lead to an increase in membership fees. My family is a hair away from canceling our membership due to the cost. I don't want to do it - I really, really love the Y - but it's getting tough.
AlexanderA, wow, 7:13AM, a little early to be hitting the bottle.