YMCA of Southeast Missouri opens new facility in Sikeston

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The YMCA of Southeast Missouri's new state-of-the-art facility in Sikeston, originally slated to open the day the ice storm shut down the entire city, is now open.

With the city staggering from the storm and the extended power outage, the opening was put on hold. After electricity was restored, the YMCA opened the new building for use Feb. 6. A grand opening is planned at a later date.

"Our grand opening won't take place until sometime in April when the entire facility is completed, which includes the renovation of the original building," said Jeff Partridge, executive director of the YMCA facility in Sikeston. "We've moved into the new facility. There are still some things that need to be done with it but we are operational in the new facility."

Although it isn't really a grand opening yet, Partridge said they are "celebrating a little bit."

While the grounds aren't landscaped and there are some finishing touches to be completed on the exterior, much of the work is complete. Partridge said the public is encouraged to visit the new facility and take a tour.

"We would love to have them come take a look at it," he said. "Everybody who we've taken through this building has been surprised and excited about what we have in here. When they get inside it, they are just thrilled with what we have to offer."

Partridge said the facility wasn't damaged by low temperatures after losing power.

"The only real issue we were dealing with was that because we had no power and no heat to the gymnasium, there was a concern that potentially there could be too much moisture in the gym floor," he said. "To combat that, we were able to contact Sikeston DPS and they provided us with a generator to give us some temporary power to heat the building and keep that from happening. Other than that we've had no issues other than having no heat and power."

However, the cold temperatures did knock the indoor swimming pool out of commission. The water in the pool reached 68 degrees while the heat was off, he said.

Partridge said the main part of the swimming pool is six lanes wide and 25 yards long. An additional area of the pool includes "a zero-depth entry area with some play features for children, an underwater water bench and a 15-foot-high water slide," he said.

The general contractor is now working on renovations to the YMCA's old building.

"In the next three months or so we'll have even more to offer when we have the original facility renovated," Partridge said.

He said half of the old gym will remain equipped for basketball while the other half is being converted into a youth and family gym, which will include a rock-climbing wall and interactive fitness/gaming equipment for children. A new aerobics room and three other classrooms will also be included.