Who knew the Bridgeport YMCA is the largest provider of day care in the city? More than 1,000 kids each day are touched by the Y through education, day care, pre-school, summer camps, and more. A whole bunch of programs for adults as well.
Bridgeport YMCA Executive Director Tim Bartlett provided a tour of three locations on Wednesday, downtown, the South End and East Side. We kept our voices low because it was nap time for a bunch of the daycare kids. These places serve as an oasis for the kids and working parents, family activities, folks seeking a GED and computer skills classes. It’s also a great place to blow off some steam in the workout areas and shoot some hoops.
The downtown Y is loaded with workout equipment, swimming pool, whirlpool, full locker facilities. The swimming pool is something to behold with the original craftsmanship from when the pool was installed in 1928. They don’t make pools like that anymore.
For membership info here.
As local director of the YMCA, Bartlett is engaged with all aspects of the city including government grants and city schools. There’s talk about closing Dunbar School in the East End and Roosevelt School in the South End. These schools are connected to the services provides by the Bridgeport YMCA outlets.
Every now and then we need reminding about the impact local institutions such as the YMCA have on the city.
