Broken pipe at YMCA turns out to be welcome surprise

Consider it a belated Christmas present.

The Dec. 26 flooding that temporarily closed the Suffolk Family Y on Godwin Boulevard wasn't initially seen as a good thing, but the past two weeks' activity may have members thinking otherwise.

After a city pipe burst underneath the building, about three inches of water poured into the facility and eventually leaked outside into the gym's parking lot.

Lorraine Worrell, property director of the facility, said they were getting new equipment in late December anyway, but because of renovations made necessary by the flooding, members will see additional upgrades to the facility.

"So it started off with new equipment," Worrell said. "It was, 'Yay! Here we go.' And then the flooding happened. But it turned out to be the silver lining."

The flooding ruined the rubber flooring in the downstairs workout rooms, so a new floor, also rubber, was installed. The fitness room also has brighter lighting, fresh paint and new equipment, with about 55 machines replacing older treadmills and other cardio equipment.

Unrelated to the broken pipe outside, another water pipe upstairs also began leaking and caused similar damage to the floor there. Members may have noticed the pale, new wooden floors in the group exercise room, as well as new paint on the walls.

There's also ceramic tile in the upper hallway that replaced carpeting and the I-Zone, an interactive fitness room for children and teens, got new carpeting and five bright shades of paint. The upstairs cycling studio added 25 new spin bikes.

And more changes are on the way.

Two new saunas, one for men and one for women, will be arriving shortly. The saunas were damaged by the upper floor leak. Also on the way is a new membership services desk and two 50-inch TVs for the I-Zone.

Throughout the nearly two-week long renovation process, Worrell said members have voiced their support and appreciation for all the new equipment.

Anne Matthews visits the local facility five days a week. She said she's grateful the renovations haven't hindered her workout schedule.

Since the flooding about two weeks ago, the gym has remained opened every day except for a day and a half after the water was discovered.

"This staff has been marvelous," Matthews said. "I like the tile floors and the paint. And they've done it so smoothly and they could have just closed down."

Rita Frankenberry, 222-5558, rita.frankenberry@pilotonline.com