See Photos of New Bayside YMCA Addition, Which Opens Soon

The opening of the new swimming pool and other additions to the Bayside YMCA, which serves Barrington, Riverside, Warren and Bristol, is 10 days away.

“We’re opening the doors on June 17,” said Executive Director Joseph Martino of the West Street facility.

Then on June 27, the new facility that is part of the Greater Providence YMCA will be dedicated with a special guest: RI Gov. Lincoln Chafee.

“His father dedicated the original building 50 years ago,” said Martino of the late former RI governor and senator John Chafee. “That’s quite a connection.” 

Martino led a brief tour of the new facility on Thursday afternoon with New England Construction subcontractors making finishing touches and laying sod outside.

The new $6.8 million wing is named the Hall Family Center, he said, for the Barrington family that contributed two lead gifts to the capital campaign.

In the Hall Family Center, Martino said, there is the Collis Aquatic Center with the new six-lane swimming pool and adjacent family pool, with two additional lanes. The family pool includes a play area with buckets that will spill water randomly on unsuspecting kids and water sprayers.

There are new locker rooms for men, women and families or people who need special assistance. The rooms include lockers made out of recycled materials that can't rust and swimming-suit spinners to help dry swimming suits.

A babysitting room will be set up into four play areas for children ages 6 months to 10 years old.

A lounge area that overlooks the pool will include many comforts of home, including vending machines and a microwave.

An elevator will shuttle anyone who needs a ride between the two floors of the building.

See the photos to get a peek of the new Bayside ‘Y’ addition before the opening yourself.