“The Meadows” neighborhood, located on the Eastside of Indianapolis is getting a new resident. The Avondale Meadows YMCA, 3908 Meadows Drive, will be officially open to the public Aug. 21 from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“We’ve built three Ys in the last three years: Our Hendricks Regional Health YMCA in Avon and our Witham Family YMCA in Lebanon. We also have the Indy Bike Hub in downtown Indianapolis. But the Avondale Meadows YMCA is different from all the others,” said Meresa Creekmore-Armor, associate vice president of community development, executive director of the Avondale Meadows Center.
The 5,600 square-foot, fully equipped YMCA has top of the line strength and cardio equipment, free weights and 28 group exercise classes. The massive gymnasium has two courts. There are also aerobics and multi purpose exercise rooms.
The new facility is also equipped with a child watch center where kids can go while their parents exercise; a chapel; and a highly anticipated teen center.
“In the past, we’d have to bus our kids to different locations or rent facilities to hold our teen nights. Now we have a teen center where they can hang out and have fun. We are so excited about this,” said Creekmore-Armor. The teen center will also provide academic tutoring three times a week, access to Wi-Fi as well as a college readiness program.
What makes this Y unique is that it will be the first fully licensed YMCA child care center called the Early Learning Center. The center will be a learning space for 45 children ages 3 to 5 years old and will be a model for future expansions of early care and learning centers at other YMCAs.
Joy Mason, board member for the Avondale Meadows YMCA and the YMCA Association said the Urban Mission Program, affectionately called the “Y without walls,” will find its way to the Meadows Y providing patrons special programs, workshops and initiatives not offered in certain areas of the city or YMCA facilities.
Financial assistance for membership to the Y is available.
“The Y is going to be a place where the whole community can come. It’s not just a building but will be a gathering place for everyone,” said Mason.
The Avondale Meadows YMCA is only one piece of the puzzle. The building is called the Avondale Meadows Health & Wellness Center, and is a joint collaboration between the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, IU Health and HealthNet.
Adhering to the center’s health and wellness goals, the public can access services from the HealthNet Northeast Health Center.
Located on the westside of the building, the health center will open Aug. 26 and will provide comprehensive primary care services for the community, including pediatrics, adult medical care, and OB/GYN. Medicare, Medicaid, Hoosier Health wise plans and most commercial insurance plans will be accepted.
“We are really excited about being at the new facility,” said Jimmy Brown, president and CEO of HealthNet. “We exist to serve the uninsured and underserved, the poor and disadvantaged. There’s a tremendous need for services in that area. This opportunity allows us to provide that while in a unique setting.”
In addition to the health care efforts, Creekmore-Armor said the facility will be more connected with the community through additional collaborations with the United Northeast Community Development Corp. (UNEC) and the Meadows Community Foundation (MCF).
Both entities are relocating and will house their offices on the second floor of the Avondale Meadows Health & Wellness Center. UNEC will continue to provide housing, economic development and community outreach services. The MCF owns a vast amount of property in the Meadows and is looking to further develop the area.
“We are excited about being part of a movement to create quality services, spaces and increasing the assets and amenities in the community,” said Amandula Anderson, executive director of UNEC, who added that her employees will have memberships to the new YMCA. “Being in this building allows us to be more visible in the community and able to cross connect with people who come in and out of the center.”
Addison Simpson executive director of MCF, is not only excited to see the Meadows show new signs of life, but believes the new addition is a godsend.
“In its heyday, this area was vibrant. Over time, it went down. We’re looking to bring it back and reinvest in this area. This new center certainly helps with that,” said Simpson.
The new $18 million, 70,000 square-foot, environmentally sound Avondale Meadows Health & Wellness Center is part of a large-scale redevelopment project in the Meadows area.
The neighborhood has already begun a transformation with mixed affordable housing, schools and now the health, wellness and community center.
Education choices in the Meadows include Challenge Foundation Academy and The Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School. Both have a proven track record of success. Adults have the opportunity to continue their education with the Excel Center, a high school for adults that serves students interested in general studies, medical and child development careers.
Also located in the Meadows is East Village at Avondale Meadows apartments. The long-term plan is to have 800 units. It will have 70 percent occupancy reserved for low-to- moderate income residents.
As residents pass away, Simpson hopes their children or grandchildren will move back into the neighborhood and bring with them a positive sense of pride in the Meadows. He is also a firm believer in more homeownership in the neighborhood.
“We’re looking to change the culture,” said Simpson, who lives in the area. “There are nice, affordable homes here and people should really look into coming back to the area.”
Future projects in the Meadows include securing a TIFF area designation to bring a grocery store, retail spaces, a park and other amenities.
For more information, call the Avondale Meadows YMCA at (317) 549-9622 or visit Indymca.org; HealthNet, call (317) 957-2150 or visit IndyHealthNet.org; United Northeast Community Development Corp. at (317) 546-6240 or unecdc.org.
