North Hills Flashback: The North Hills YMCA (1957-2006)

First and foremost, it is great to be back on Patch. Several years ago, I had authored the North Hills Flashback column and am delighted to have returned with more great memories from around the North Hills to share with everyone. I am thankful for the opportunity to be back and look forward to sharing tales of ages past once again. Be on the lookout for a weekly “Flashback Friday” once again!

Since we are smack in the midst of the dog days of summer, it is only appropriate to begin with a location that was a favorite for many North Hills residents during the warm, humid months: the Pine Creek YMCA. Located in McCandless at the corner of Route 19 and Pine Creek Road, it was convenient for residents of many surrounding communities, including Ross, Franklin Park, and Pine. Opened in 1957 inside the old Perry Lane Nursery Shop, the YMCA quickly caught on with locals.

The complex consisted of a main building and an outdoor area. The building was a simple two story complex consisting of a gymnasium, a half-gymnasium, and a weight room. Classrooms were located upstairs. For children, the YMCA could be a place to learn basketball, play Kindersoccer (the introductory soccer program offered there), or even attend a math camp. Adults could lift weights or take their dog for a session of puppy kindergarten. College students even got a discounted rate to use the facilities.

The outdoor pool, of course, was one of the most popular attractions. Swimming lessons were given in the morning, followed by open swim in the afternoon. The main pool was a simple rectangle, divided into a shallow (3 to 5 feet) and deep (12 feet) end; the deep end featured an immensely popular diving board. A large YMCA “Y” logo was painted on the bottom of the pool near the center. Small children could play in the children’s pool, a circular pool with a depth of three feet isolated from the main area. A snack bar offered poolside staples such as popcorn and soda. There was also an outdoor sports complex adjacent to the pool area, which included sand volleyball courts.

For many, this pool was the go-to place to swim due to is convenience, affordability, and upkeep. Between Bellevue and Avonworth’s pools to the south, McCandless Swim Club to the east, and Windwood to the north, there were no other outdoor community swimming options aside from North Park and the more private pools, such as the one at Highland Country Club. Far smaller than North Park’s pool, the YMCA was a great option for those who wanted a smaller setting.

The pool operated as many smaller pools did: there would be a 45 minute open swim followed by a 15 minute “adult swim”, in which one had to be 18 or older to remain in the pool. This brief time was often utilized by lap swimmers and practitioners of water aerobics, among others, while the children grabbed a snack or took a break. When the lifeguard blew his or her whistle at the end of “adult swim”, dozens of children would jump into the pool at once, ready for another session of fun.

Although the facility was accessible and convenient, it was also outdated by the time the new millennium dawned. The building was old, small, and lacked air conditioning. (Your friendly author used to have to carry an additional fan to the weight room to stay cool during summer workouts). Course offerings were limited by the size and lack of expandability of the property. Even the snack bar was limited in menu due to its size. Rather than update the existing YMCA, a new facility was built on Nicholson Road, opening in 2006 and complete with a much larger exercise area, state-of-the-art facilities, a larger outdoor pool, and an indoor pool for year-round use. The old YMCA was shuttered early that year, demolished, and replaced by a Walgreens drug store.

While the old building may be gone, the memories remain. The old pool, in particular, is missed by many due to its convenience and reasonable rates. Many locals learned the fundamentals of sports they would go on to play in high school and college at the Pine Creek YMCA. Positive memories of camps, classes, and fun times with friends will forever remain, long after the pool has been filled and replaced with another generic big box store.

Personally, I always loved going to the Pine Creek YMCA. I practically lived at the pool during the summer months; only rain or a busy schedule could keep me from jumping in. The YMCA was where I learned how to play soccer, where I had my first gym membership, where I went to math camp, where a friend had an amazing pool party, and where my dog took puppy kindergarten. I still remember my final swim in the YMCA pool in August 2005. By that time, I was old enough to be able to stay in for “adult swim”, and while I never did fulfill my childhood dream to be a lifeguard there, I nonetheless knew the pool had instilled in me a lifelong love of swimming. To this day, I still swim regularly. Getting out of the pool for the final time was definitely a moment that tugged at my heart, as I knew I would never return to my childhood haunt again. The new facility is nice, but it’s quite a hike for someone who lives in Perrysville and, while far more up to date, just isn’t the old quirky YMCA-built-into-a-nursery from my youth, the one which I’ll forever pass along great memories of.

What were your favorite memories of the Pine Creek YMCA? Who else would like to see a community swimming pool once again along the Route 19 corridor? Feel free to comment!