YMCA of South Florida celebrates the grand opening of the Barbara and Philip Wong Aquatic Center at its South Dade Family Center

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – The YMCA of South Florida has officially opened a new aquatic facility at its South Dade YMCA Family Center, adding a new place for swimming, fitness and family activities in the community.

The Barbara and Philip Wong Aquatic Center was celebrated with a recent grand opening reception attended by community leaders and donors. The center is named in honor of Barbara and Philip Wong, whose support helped make the new facility possible.

Located at 9355 SW 134 Street in Miami, the aquatic center is now open to the public. One of its main features is a zero-depth entry swimming pool, designed to provide easier access for swimmers of different ages and abilities.

The facility also includes a Nicklaus Children’s Health System Cabana. Together, the new amenities are expected to provide more than 18,000 residents with access to affordable and accessible swim lessons.

The YMCA said the new center is part of its broader effort to help reduce drownings in the community. By providing swimming instruction in a welcoming setting, the organization hopes to give children and families greater access to important water safety skills.

The aquatic center is also intended to serve a much wider purpose. Families can use the facility as a place to gather, while YMCA members can have another option for exercise, recreation and relaxation.

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The new facility is expected to bring additional employment opportunities to South Dade as well. Positions will include swim and fitness instructors, lifeguards and other staff needed to operate the aquatic center.

Children will have access to a safe place to swim and play throughout the year, while young athletes will have another opportunity to take part in organized sports. The YMCA plans to expand its youth sports offerings through a local swim team.

Aquatic activities will not be limited to children and competitive swimmers. The center will also provide low-impact aquatic fitness programs for seniors and adults with limited mobility. Pool-based exercise can offer an alternative for people who may find some traditional forms of exercise difficult.

The opening adds another major feature to a facility that has already served South Dade families for more than a decade.

The South Dade YMCA Family Center has been serving the community since 2013. The location has a state-of-the-art wellness center as well as programs focused on youth sports and family activities.

The YMCA has also continued to expand the services available at the center. Its existing amenities include a recently expanded Kids Zone, an indoor cycling studio, personal training and group fitness classes.

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Members can also use a dedicated classroom for semi-private Pilates Reformer sessions, adding another option for those interested in fitness and wellness programs.

The addition of the Barbara and Philip Wong Aquatic Center gives the South Dade location another way to serve people at different stages of life. Young children can take part in swim lessons, families can spend time together around the pool, athletes can train with a local swim team and older adults can participate in lower-impact fitness activities.

The center also reflects the YMCA’s focus on making recreational and wellness programs available to a broad section of the community. With swimming lessons and other aquatic programs offered at the new facility, residents will have access to activities designed for both recreation and physical activity.

The grand opening brought together the people involved in supporting and developing the project, including community leaders and donors. The naming of the facility recognizes the contribution of Barbara and Philip Wong and their role in helping create the new community resource.

With the aquatic center now open, the South Dade YMCA Family Center has added swimming and water-based fitness to its existing mix of wellness, youth and recreational programs.

The YMCA of South Florida continues to offer programs and services through its locations across the region. More information about the organization and its facilities is available at ymcasouthflorida.org.