Birthday fun at YMCA
It’s time to bounce back in time at New Plymouth’s YMCA for its 85th birthday celebrations.
To highlight this milestone, YMCA Taranaki is holding a YMCA All-Star Legends basketball game on April 27 and a free family fun day on April 28.
Senior manager for sport and recreation Jonnie Orrell says the Friday night legends event will be a fun but competitive game featuring two men’s teams made up of former basketball stars, including Steve Campbell, Willie Banks and Warren Osborne with some courtside direction from former coach Steve McKean.
About 20 ex-players have signed up, but not all will be fit enough to take the court. They will support from the bench, and some more youthful ex-Mountain Airs will fill the playing gaps.
‘‘It’s a bit of nostalgia with past legends,’’ Orrell says.
The game tips off at 7pm and, beforehand, an under-15 curtain-raiser will light up the community stadium, which first opened in 1967.
Outside, there will be food trucks and coffee carts, and the after-match party is being held at the Good Home.
Next day, the celebrations continue at the YMCA, where children, youth and adults of all ages can join in a free fun day, running from 10am to 3pm. Again, the food and drink trucks will be on hand.
There will be face-painting, sports activities and coaching, interactive games, kindy gym and dance performances.
Older kids can play pool and table tennis, try the climbing wall or test themselves in the fitness centre, which was launched in 1975.
The improvements continue. ‘‘We have had a lot of work done over the past year and it’s a good time to celebrate.’’
The city’s YMCA was first started on May 23, 1933. The following year, the New Plymouth YMCA and YWCA combined for an official opening on Powderham St.
Orrell says the YMCA is for the whole community. ‘‘We provide a service from birth to the grave. We have children coming in from three months old and guys who are 85 still working out in the gym.’’
Basketball tickets can be bought either from the YMCA or online at ymcataranaki.eventbrite.co.nz.