YMCA board members Vicky Corrodi and her daughter Olivia, and Brad Ackerman and his son Jacob, Mayor Elect Liz Lempert and the YMCA’s Chairman David Sandahl cut the ribbon Dec. 7, 2012 to celebrate the reopening of the YMCA-YWCA Dodge Gymnasium. The Corrodis and the Ackermans are Princeton residents. The challenge will raise funds for a new scoreboard at the Dodge Gymnasium.
Forty-year-old Dodge Gymnasium reopened Dec. 7 after a series of renovations.
The Dodge Gymnasium, named for Princeton University graduates Bayard and Cleveland Dodge, was originally dedicated in 1972.
For 25 years half of the gym floor was sanded and varnished annually. The other half was left in its original condition. In November the YMCA stripped, painted and varnished the entire gym floor. The renovation also included updating the backboards. While the gym will be administered by the YMCA, the YWCA Princeton will continue to use the space for its programs.
Senior program director Kevin Walsh said the YMCA will offer more free time for members to use the gym and more programs like badminton and pickleball.
“Our goal is give people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds as many opportunities as possible to have fun, be active and lead healthier lifestyles,” Walsh said.
The YMCA unveiled the renovations on Dec. 7 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and fundraising event. The Free Throw Challenge was organized to raise money for digital score boards, a court divider and other gym improvements. Children collected pledges for their baskets. The top fundraiser received a free basketball league entry. The YMCA hoped to score 2012 baskets.
Guinness Book of World Records free throw recordholder Mike Campbell of West Windsor attended the challenge. Campbell, originally from Bayonne, set the world record for most free throws in 60 minutes in 2005 and beat his own record in 2007. Campbell’s record is 1,347 baskets. The current world record is held by Bob J. Fisher, who shot 1,501 baskets in 2011.
More information is online at princetonymca.org.
