Valley Shore YMCA Celebrates the Grand Opening of Family-Friendly Locker Room

Valley Shore YMCA Celebrates the Grand Opening of Family-Friendly Locker Room
 
Westbrook, CT – The Valley Shore YMCA proudly held the grand opening of its much-anticipated Family-Friendly Locker Room yesterday, a modern space designed to enhance accessibility, safety, and convenience for families and individuals alike. This milestone reflects the culmination of years of planning and community support, starting with the YMCA’s 2017 capital campaign.
 
The new Family-Friendly Locker Room underscores the YMCA’s mission to create a welcoming space for all, embodying the principles of community, wellness, and inclusivity. This facility is designed to provide families—who make up one-third of the YMCA’s membership—a private, accommodating space to prepare for activities while removing the need for children to navigate adult locker rooms. It also better supports core programs such as swim lessons, summer camps, the YMCA’s Marlins Swim Team, and Kids’ Night Out, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all participants.
 
“This space represents more than a simple locker room,” said Tony Sharillo, CEO of the Valley Shore YMCA. “It reflects our commitment to better serving our members, especially our families, while fostering inclusivity, and ensuring everyone who walks through our doors feels valued and supported. This space creates an environment where families can thrive.”
 
Special recognition was given to Ken Biega of Noble Construction Management for his invaluable efforts in overseeing the project, as well as the donors, volunteers, and board members whose support made this dream a reality.
 
The event also served as a platform to preview the YMCA’s upcoming “What’s Next Campaign,” which aims to build on this success to further enhance community impact. The campaign will officially launch at the YMCA’s first annual What’s Next Celebration on February 11th at The Kate in Old Saybrook, an evening dedicated to celebrating the YMCA’s recent achievements and revealing its exciting future initiatives.
 
“This opening is not just the end of one chapter but the beginning of another,” added Sharillo. “With the completion of this project, we’re already looking ahead to the next phase of our capital development. This is your Y, and we’re thrilled to continue this journey with you.”
 
The Valley Shore YMCA invites the community to join this journey and be part of its mission to build a better future for the Connecticut Shoreline.
 
For more information about the Family-Friendly Locker Room, upcoming events, or how to support the YMCA, visit vsymca.org or call (860) 399-9622.