Rendering courtesy of Marshall Area YMCA Renderings show some of the changes planned at the Marshall Area YMCA’s fitness center, after remodeling work starts later this summer. The plan includes some new weight and cardio equipment, and an updated layout.

MARSHALL — Some of the updates planned in the Marshall Area YMCA’s capital campaign will happen this summer. New equipment and other features are planned to be installed in the Y’s fitness center next month, said Ron Halgerson, who has been working with the capital campaign.

Remodeling work in the fitness center is planned to begin on July 21, said YMCA interim CEO Jamie Nauman.

“It’s exciting,” Nauman said. Contributions from local organizations, businesses and community members have helped make the work possible. “We are really grateful for the community’s support.”

This week, Halgerson and Nauman talked about the status of different planned facilities updates. On Friday, Nauman said the fitness center remodel included new weight room and cardio equipment. The layout of the fitness center would also be rearranged a little.

“It’s going to look less crowded,” Nauman said.

The updates will remove the fitness center’s counter, and use the space for functional training instead, she said. The functional area will feature equipment like ropes, kettlebells and a tank sled.

The fitness center will need to close temporarily while remodeling work is done, Nauman said.

The Y is still waiting for the equipment for another big item on the capital campaign, an indoor playground. The playground equipment has been ordered, but it has not shipped to Marshall yet, Halgerson said this week.

The YMCA plans to convert its two existing racquetball courts into a play area with two different structures. One playground would be geared toward toddlers, while the other will have more levels of climbing and play features for school-aged children.

Other improvements underway at the YMCA this summer include updates to the Y’s meeting room, Halgerson and Nauman said.

Earlier this year, the Marshall Sunrise Rotary Club donated $25,000 to support improvements like new carpet and seating in the meeting room. At the same time, they had announced the room would be renamed the Ted Rowe Meeting Room in honor of Rowe’s commitment to the YMCA and the community. Rowe died in 2024.

The Y’s capital campaign also includes some building maintenance items that might be less noticeable. Facilities needs included in the campaign range from updated water heaters and fire alarm systems to parking lot maintenance.

“After 23 years of operation, it was time to make some improvements,” Halgerson said.

The YMCA had a $750,000 fundraising goal for its capital campaign. By March, they had reached 93% of that goal. Area organizations and businesses have continued to support the campaign since then. This month, Minnwest Bank in Marshall announced that the YMCA was one of three local nonprofits awarded grant funding through a partnership between Minnwest and Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines. The Y was awarded $12,000 through the Member Impact Fund.

The items in the capital campaign, like the indoor playground, will make a difference for community members, Nauman said.

“In our region, it’s going to impact a lot of families,” she said.

The Marshall Area Y still sees lots of use by community members, more than 20 years after it was built. Nauman said the Marshall Area YMCA has more than 2,200 memberships, which breaks down to more than 4,800 individual people. Some of the membership units are family memberships, she said.

While Y attendance varies, on some days there can be more than 500 people who use the Marshall facilities, Nauman said.

“Especially during the academic year, our gym is packed,” she said. YMCA programs like swimming lessons are also usually full, she said.