YMCA Expands for Group Exercise, Stay & Play, Esports Gaming

The Fairless Hills branch of River Crossing YMCA, located at 601 S. Oxford Valley Rd., has opened expanded member spaces to accommodate community demand for more group exercise, Stay & Play child care and esports gaming. 

The Studio 1 expansion on the second floor allows for more space and comfort for larger group exercise classes and includes a new partition that can divide the room for two smaller classes to co-exist. At full capacity, the larger studio space will accommodate more than 50 participants.

The Stay & Play space now includes separate areas for arts and crafts, as well as infant care, and a larger playroom for children to move freely and play collaboratively. The new half-height walls allow for the natural segmenting of the space without preventing the obstruction of sight lines for staff to supervise children. Stay & Play is a 

benefit to Y members to enjoy the branch while their children, aged three months through 12 years old, engage in purposeful play with professional care.

The new Metro Esports gaming lounge, operating since April, consists of 14 gaming PCs and two console stations. Open gaming lounge access is included with YMCA membership. Gaming camps are available this summer, and party rentals are offered year-round. 

“It is thrilling to see members in the newly expanded spaces,” said Andrew Yannarella, vice president of operations of the Lower Bucks region of River Crossing YMCA. “With our focus on the needs of our community, we can continue to accommodate the demand for more group exercise classes and opportunities for our families to enjoy the Y.

“The esports gaming lounge meets our kids where they are, providing the best of gaming technology in a social learning environment their families trust,” Yannarella continued. “And with the larger exercise studio, we can offer community Pathway programs, like our Veterans Wellness and Healthy Horizons.” 

YMCA Pathway programs are donor-supported, free and open to the community. The Veterans Wellness Pathway program is a 12-week health and wellness program for military Veterans and/or their partners/spouses. Healthy Horizons, also 12 weeks long, provides exercise, nutrition and mindfulness education to adults in the mental health recovery process.