WAYNE, NJ — The Wayne Township Community Center officially opened this week at the now-former YMCA building, after the township purchased the building earlier this year.
Patch talked to Director of Parks and Recreation Tim Roetman about how the first few days went at the community center, and what new programs and upcoming events there are in the works.
Wayne Township took possession of the building on Sunday, and opened it Monday morning for people to swim, work out, and use the squash courts and open gym. It is now part of the parks and rec department.
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“I would consider these first few days a big success,” Roetman said on Thursday. “A lot of people have come in the door and checked the facility out, and are using it.”
What does the community center offer?
The fitness area, pool, squash courts, open gym, and locker rooms are open for members to use. Memberships are not required to attend meetings, free community programs, or shows in the theater, to take classes, or to eat at the cafe.
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Private swimming lessons began this week, with group lessons set to begin in January. Roetman said the parks department is re-training many staff members to make sure the lessons are all consistent with their standards. Aquacise classes are scheduled to begin the week of Nov. 11.
A community after-school theater club is scheduled to start on Tuesday,, Nov. 12 for students aged 6-14, in the Rosen Performing Arts Center. The Wayne Rotary Club also rented out the theater for a comedy show on Nov. 21, featuring Aaron Berg.
Roetman said the parks and recreation department is working on additional programming for all ages, including a three-on-three basketball tournament in late November, a pickleball tournament in December or January, and social dances for adults with disabilities.
“We’re really going to be focused on serving the whole community and making sure that we provide something for everybody here,” he said.
The WIN Food Pantry will remain open in its current offices, and Roetman said that Parks staff have been helping the pantry get organized.
He said some Wayne For All Ages programs might move to the community center in the new year, but that all other township offices are remaining put for now.
To see all of the classes and events at the community center, click here to go to the online registration portal.
Current hours are:
Staffing and memberships
Roetman said there are 60 part-time staff who moved over from the YMCA, and five full-time staff members – including the membership and marketing coordinator and the interim aquatics director.
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“The majority of front desk, lifeguards, fitness staff, and exercise staff, pretty much everyone, stayed on,” he said.
Roetman also said that as the community center adds more classes and programs, they could be looking for more staff members.
“We’re looking at changing the schedule, come January, to try to offer more programs in the evening so when people are coming home from work, they have a place to go where they can exercise and work out,” he said.
As Patch reported previously, the Y delivered layoff notices to 155 full-time and part-time employees in August. The township said many of these people would be offered positions at the community center, and Y leadership told Patch that they would also work with employees to find them a new position – whether it was at the community center or elsewhere.
As for memberships, Roetman said the facility had 800 members as of Thursday, Nov. 7 and said he had a goal of about 3,000 members by the end of 2025.
Both residents and non-residents can apply for memberships at the community center (1 Pike Drive) and bring proof of ID, plus proof of township residence if they live in Wayne. For children’s memberships, a birth certificate is required.
The Wayne YMCA had more than 6,200 members, according to a TAPinto report from earlier this year; the Y had been in the community for 14 years.
Town officials also sent out a welcome letter to community members (see below) that includes facility hours, how to become a member, and more:
Roetman said he was looking forward to other community events in the township including the Veterans Day observance and community Diwali lighting on Monday, the Christmas tree lighting on Thursday, Dec. 5, and a Hanukkah lighting later in the year.
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