
State Sen. Joe Picozzi and Rep. Martina White last week joined leaders from the Greater Philadelphia YMCA to announce a $75,000 grant that will fund a renovation of the women’s locker room at the Northeast Family YMCA, 11088 Knights Road.
The renovation will address aging infrastructure in the women’s locker room, specifically new lockers, vanities and mirrors. The work will take place in late October, shutting down the locker room for four or five days.
The announcement took place on the swimming pool deck. The pool was filled with summer campers and members of a group exercise class.
Swimming ranks as the most popular physical activity in the branch’s service area — above weightlifting, yoga and aerobics. The women’s locker room serves as a gateway to the pool and wellness spaces.
Accepting the check were Joe Ferguson, the new president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia YMCA; the organization’s chief development officer, Luisa Wilsman; and Nicole Curotto, executive director of the Northeast Family YMCA.
Picozzi said he learned to swim at the Y, adding that the facility serves as an ideal “third space.”
“This space does so much good for Northeast Philadelphia,” he said. “This is a pivotal third space for Northeast Philly.”
Phase II of the renovations will include painting and retiling in the locker room. ••

