YMCA overhaul continues; Scheels commits $333K matching donation

When the Billings Family YMCA unveils its new mens locker room next week, the first major step in a massive, monthslong $2.5 million renovation of its locker rooms will be complete.

Literally, all the way down to the floorboards and tile, everything is new in the locker rooms, said Mistie Mims, development director at the Y.

On Friday, work crews scampered to finish up in the mens locker room on the second floor, painting, tiling and making a few last-minute installations for a planned public unveiling, complete with tours, on Tuesday before opening for use the next day.

The nonprofit health and fitness center serves about 10 percent of the population of Yellowstone County, or about 15,000 people, through membership and other programs.

Construction began on April 21 and when completed, the Y will have 1,000 new lockers, a larger whirlpool, a big-screen TV, new plumbing, improved HVAC, rewired electrical, fresh paint, new showers and new tile, among other improvements.

The mens room is just the first of a complete overhaul of the three major locker rooms at the Y, 402 N. 32nd St.

Our locker rooms have been run-down for so long, so its exciting to see this happening, Mims said. These renovations will be here for generations.

Work is just starting on a new, larger womens locker room on the first floor that will feature more space and the same improvements as the mens counterpart upstairs.

The total cost to rebuild the two is about $1.9 million.

Were just finishing up phase one and going into phase two, Mims said. We hope to finish (the womens lockers) by the end of November.

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YMCA overhaul continues; Scheels commits $333K matching donation