Instead of making a trek to Tempe, about 300 students have opted to forgo the Student Recreation Complex and work out somewhere a bit closer - The Lincoln Family Downtown YMCA, a 45,000 square-foot facility one block west of the University Center.
The YMCA partners with ASU to allow students to use the facility like their own SRC, said Jeff Myers, Lincoln Family Downtown YMCA executive director.
Journalism freshman Cecilia Quimbaya said she likes that the gym is close, so she can workout between her classes.
"It's really convenient," Quimbaya said. "I can get out of class, walk over to the gym and walk back to my room to get ready for my next class."
Although Myers said about 300 ASU students have used the YMCA this semester, several students like nursing junior Chelsea Alkema were not aware they could use the facility.
"I didn't know," said Alkema, who commutes to the Downtown campus. "It [YMCA] doesn't say ASU on it."
The Lincoln Family Downtown YMCA is primarily used by Downtown campus students, but it is open and available to all ASU students, said Will Hirachita, Lincoln Family Downtown YMCA membership coordinator.
Once a semester, students need to bring their Sun Cards to the facility, fill out a form and they receive a YMCA membership card that is good for the semester, Hirachita said.
The card only works for the Lincoln Family Downtown YMCA, not all YMCAs, Hirachita added.
"It [getting a card] was an easy process," said special education senior Natoya Brown. "I just filled out the paperwork."
The YMCA is reimbursed based on the number of students enrolled at the Downtown campus - and their student activity fees paid - even though all ASU students can use the facility, said Erin Cullen-Marlowe, Lincoln Family Downtown YMCA membership director.
Downtown and Tempe students taking at least seven credit hours pay a $25 SRC fee per semester, and students taking less than seven credits pay $12, according to ASU's student business services Web site.
Brown added she appreciates having a gym nearby with new equipment and great amenities such as a sauna.
"It's one of the best YMCAs," Brown said. "It's a really nice gym."
The YMCA underwent a $6 million renovation last year including a new entrance, a larger cardio room, brand new equipment and a locker room makeover, Myers said.
Although the YMCA is about one-third the size of the SRC - which is about 139,000 square feet, according to Doug Ewing, SRC associate director - they both provide similar options for students.
Both facilities offer yoga, step and belly dance classes, massages, have basketball and racquetball courts and lap pools.
"It [YMCA] has a little bit of everything," said social work graduate student Mike Lopez.
The YMCA does not currently offer intramurals, which is one drawback to students like Quimbaya.
"It would be great to have an [intramurals] volleyball league," Quimbaya said. "There are a lot of people who would play."
Myers said intramurals are a possibility for the fall semester.
In the meantime, Myers said the ASU students are a welcomed addition to the YMCA - which has 4,700 members not affiliated with ASU.
"The students bring additional energy," Myers said.
He added the YMCA hopes to add a small part to the students' overall college experience.
Lopez said he is glad the YMCA is open to students.
"For the Downtown campus [and the size of its student population], it fits the needs of the students," Lopez said.
Reach the reporter at: jeffrey.mitchell@asu.edu.
