FROM THE DESK OF SENATOR DAVID LONG
I had the great pleasure to participate in the grand opening of the Jorgenson YMCA facility last week. What a fabulous building! The first sight as you walk in the doorways is a huge room filled with the most modern weight machines, stair climbers, treadmills, and other exercise equipment that can be found.
In addition, there is a great indoor lap pool, which also has a connecting kids area complete with a tube slide. There are two full court basketball courts that can be converted to 3-4 shorter courts. And on the second floor, there is an indoor track that encircles the entire complex, and has a modern, soft floor. The locker rooms are modern and spacious.
The Jorgenson “Y” is located near the intersection of Aboite Center and Homestead Roads. It sits on the northwest corner of the new Indian Trails Park, which is also a wonderful addition to the southwest area of Fort Wayne. Together, they provide this corner of our community with a recreational area that is second to none.
A lot of praise needs to be handed out for these accomplishments. First and foremost, Ove Jorgenson and family deserve the gratitude and thanks of everyone in the area. Their incredible generosity in donating a significant amount of the funds needed to construct the “Y” is the sole reason the facility could be built. They have left a lasting legacy for our community that will be used and enjoyed by many generations of Fort Wayne families.
But there were also many other people who worked tirelessly and out of the limelight to help raise the necessary funds to make this facility possible. They deserve great credit as well. And the vision of the Y’s leaders to team with Redi-Med and Fort Wayne Orthopedics, by allowing them to have working offices located within the facility, was brilliant. That brought in the additional funding to allow the construction to proceed, and also created a convenient medical presence for the residents of the area.
One final thank you—a great big one—-goes to Barbara Krisher, the Aboite Township Trustee, who has worked tirelessly to construct recreational facilities for the townships families and children. The soccer fields west of Homestead High School, the terrific Little League Baseball complex just south of Summit Middle School, and the wonderful new Indian Trails Park…..all of these exist because of her vision, energy and leadership.
In addition, Barbara was instrumental in getting the new “Y” constructed because of her willingness to sell a corner of the new park so they could erect the building in a convenient, accessible, and high profile location. The locale also provided enough space to build the type of YMCA facility that is second to none in the nation. Barbara Krisher deserves all of our thanks and kudos for the positive changes she has made to our area….all done without fanfare or publicity. She is a true public servant, and a top-notch leader.
I know this article is doling out a lot of praise, but I think it’s deserved. At a time when our area needs some positive news, and strong leadership, the Jorgenson Y comes along and shows what a few good people with a goal to make their community better can do. It reinforces my belief that the people of this area are special, and that no matter how tough things may look we will endure and prosper in the end.
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