Dozens of people streamed into the newly-constructed YMCA on Sharps Lot Road in Swansea for the Community Open House on December 19, 2015 to try out the gorgeous new facility. YMCA Southcoast  CEO Gary Schuyler, COO and VP of Operations Nancy Bonell, and Facility Executive Director Jeanine Achin were on hand to welcome guests  "We're absolutely thrilled to be adding the Stoico/FIRSTFED YMCA to our portfolio of YMCAs across Southeastern Massachusetts ," stated Schuyler. The renovation of the former Grace Gospel Church, which has since relocated to County Street in Somerset, was accomplished with the help of a $1,000,000 gift from the Robert F. Stoico/FIRSTFED Charitable Foundation for which the facility has been named. The building houses a full size gymnasium, a huge fitness center, a children's play structure, a spinning room, and a meditation center on the second floor with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the extensive property. Work is continuing on two outdoor ball fields, a basketball court, a climbing wall and ropes course, and a mile-long running course, all of which are expected to be ready by early spring. Click here for a three-minute video of the facility and here for an earlier Herald News story. Click here for photos and video of the opening of the newly renovated Fall River Y in February of this year. For more information about the programs and services, contact Executive Director Jeanine Achin at at 508-678-9622.

(Top row) Jared and Donna O'Connell talk with Y staff member Christine Medieros and her son, Tyler as Executive Director Jeanine Achin and YMCA Southcoast CEO and President Gary Schuyler welcome visitors to the Open House at 271 Sharps Lot Road in Swansea.. (Row two) YMCA Southcoast Education Director Kathy Treglia gives Swansea residents Dan and Emily Hill a tour of the facility and answers questions. (Row three) People try out the new equipment in the fitness center including state-of-the-art magnetic recumbent exercise bikes with video screens. (Row four, left) Jan Plante tries the exercise ropes while Sue Sullivan looks on. (Row four, center and right) Sun Do Master Ron Catalbo leads a group in the second-floor studio. (Row five) Staff member Donna Calis plays with one of the children while her mother, Elaine Golen, looks on, and Santa talks with four-year-old Claude Richards before he enters the multistory climbing structure. (Row six) Xander Barney gets some tips from his Y Welcome Center staff member mother, Hope Barney, as Southcoast YMCA COO and VP of Operations Nancy Bonell talks with Newman Y members Tom Foley and Buddy Aubry. (Bottom row) The facility includes an outdoor climbing facility, still under construction, as well as a large gymnasium and a spinning room,.