The brand new, state of the art, Warsaw Parkview YMCA has been open for almost a month, but with a whole new calendar year on the horizon the facility is gearing up for a full slate of activities and events for the community throughout the year.

As spring arrives and the weather begins to improve, the Y will change things up a bit by hosting its Corporate Challenge in April. The event, normally held in the fall, was pushed back this year until the spring in order to ensure that the new facilities were available for the various challenges. Local businesses are encouraged to form teams of employees to come together and compete against other from the area.  Basketball, softball and a 5K road race are just a few of the sports in which the teams must prove their mettle. On April 25 the YMCA will host its annual Healthy Kids Day, as well as a Spring Open House Day. “We are trying to put a lot of it together at the same time and target a specific audience,” said Tonya Douglass, the Parkview YMCA’s director of operations.

In years past the YMCA youth basketball league has held its games at off-site locations, but this year will mark the first year that the league will be held on-site. Not only that, but, as Douglass stated, “We are looking at adult programming like adult basketball leagues as a definite possibility due to the increase in gym space.

The Y will have 20 different strength and flexibility classes each week, as well as 23 for Zumba, Hip-Hop and Salsa dancing. Many of the new-age classes that are gaining popularity nationally like TRX and Pound will also be available with 13 classes each week.

Both of the new swimming pools are available for rent for such events as birthday parties or church functions, and the new multi-purpose room provides a nice place to relax and eat during breaks from aquatic action.

First things first though, as there will be no better way to kick those New Year’s resolutions into gear than by joining the Y for its annual Frigid 5k race at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 1. The race will start and finish at the facility.

For those who cannot make the race but still want to hit the ground running in the new year, the Y will be hosting the Couch Potato Triathalon in January and February. The program gives participants to log the equivalent of a whole triathlon (2.4miles of swimming, 112 miles of cycling and 26.2 miles of running) in their free time by documenting their progress after each visit. Those who finish will receive a t-shirt.

For more information of the YMCA’s 2015 programs  call (574) 269-2622 or visit kcymca.org.