Arnie Garelick is standing in what used to be the former boiler room of the Champion Paper building in the town of Clarkstown”™s hamlet of West Nyack in what he said is “a dream come true.” The dream came true opened its doors in December 2007.
Rockland”™s JCC-Y was a long-standing fixture at its old location in New City. But when Arnie Garelick and other senior members saw the potential the former Champion Paper building in West Nyack offered, they jumped in with both feet ”“ and checkbooks in hand.
Champion Paper”™s old manufacturing plant was purchased for approximately $6.5 million. Four years later, its former owners wouldn”™t recognize the 135,000 square foot building on 16 acres. The plant”™s mechanical room is now a beautiful reception area leading to gyms, a new café, fitness rooms, dance and aerobics classes, a senior center (boasting 1,000 members), a racquetball court and a 20,000-square-foot gym with rubber flooring ”“ just a sampling of the facilities and programs the JCC offers the community.
It”™s now called the JCC ”“ for Jewish Community Center ”“ without the “Y.”
You don”™t have to be Jewish to love the JCC. Because the center applied for federal and state funds toward construction, it is open to all faiths and races. Although Garelick points out exclusivity was never on the menu: “We didn”™t want to be exclusive. While Jewish heritage and faith is honored, the JCC is for the people of Rockland for many generations to come.”
Membership fees are based on family size, age and other factors. “No one is excluded,” said Garelick.
Retired NYPD officer Kenny Crawford was busy working out when Garelick toured the center, enthusiastically pointing out its every offering.
Any complaints? Garelick asked Crawford.
“I”™d like to find something to complain about, but I can”™t,” said Crawford, who noted the new state-of-the-art equipment is not the only amenity he enjoys. “It”™s also the feeling when you walk in. You”™re feel like you”™re home.”
Garelick said memberships are open to local corporations for their employees and families. “The goal is to be continually in use and be useful to all.”
That was the goal of Garelick and the dozens of others behind the planning and construction of the building. “People donated over $18.5 million for this center,” said Garelick. “They weren”™t all Jewish, either. The people of Rockland donated because they saw the future potential for our community.”
From toddlers to seniors, the JCC has something for everyone ”“ including a “kvetch or kvell” (complain or praise) box so the center can get feedback from members.
Between donations and funding from the Rockland IDA, the former Champion Paper building”™s original structure is just about the only significant feature left by its former owner. A new façade, new windows and insulation have given the building a totally different feel. The parking lot that once held Champion employees”™ cars are now filled with JCC members”™ autos ”“ from upscale BMW SUVs to humble Ford Focuses.
In the lobby is the Allan Eisenkraft Wall of Honor, featuring the names of prominent center donors, including Eisenkraft himself.
Inside, there is a hubbub of activity: seniors playing cards, meeting rooms where local issues are discussed, several workout centers and classes for children of all ages, right up to those teen years and beyond. “When people tell me their kids come home from school and want to come to the ”˜Y,”™” ”“ meaning the center ”“ “I know we”™ve hit on the right chord,” said Garelick. “This is really needed and appreciated.”
For teens, there”™s no more complaining, “There”™s nothing to do around here.” They can shoot hoops (900 kids belong to the basketball teams), play racquetball or work out in the fitness room or join one of the many teen groups forming as Garelick speaks. In his point of view, it beats hanging out in the local mall or getting into trouble by playing “knock over the mailbox.” Nonsport teen-friendly amenities include an arcade built by XRKade.
The arcade”™s interactive machines allow tweens and teens to skateboard in place, climb a rock wall or pedal a bike on all types of terrain. It”™s all interactive, and the youths are interacting en masse after school. “By 3 p.m., we”™re packed,” said Garelick. There”™s also a game room that offers the kind of games kids”™ parents will remember (even pinball!).
In the past year, the JCC gained almost 1,000 new members. A membership ranges from a single person to a family, so the total amount of people now using the JCC is approximately, 4,000. Garelick said he expects that number to grow even more as the word gets out about the new community center. “A year ago, we had 220 memberships at our old location. The numbers speak for themselves.”
The JCC takes up approximately 100,000 square feet of the building. The rest is rented out to the Jewish Federal, Hadassah, Jewish Family Services, Center for Rockland Jewish Education and the Hudson Valley Political Action Group.
One caveat: the center is closed from Friday at sundown to Saturday evening at sunset out of respect for local synagogues, who requested the center observe the Jewish Sabbath. Many members would like to see the center open seven days a week, but Garelick said he feels the JCC is doing the right thing.
Crawford, working out in the gym, agreed. “Everyone needs a day off, but I will tell you, this place is packed on Sundays.”
Garelick said the JCC-Y”™s next mission is a 20,000-square foot expansion that will add a lap pool and a family pool, as well as outdoor ball fields and tennis courts. Money and patience will play a part in getting phase 2 ready for the growing JCC membership. “We expect to have the approvals by the summer,” said Garelick. “After that, we”™ll start on the fundraising.”
Although the plaque on the front entrance dedicates the building to the builder, Garelick is modest about his accomplishment. “I was with the JCC-Y in Haverstraw for many years and served for a time as its president. This is a dream I”™ve always had. Now, the dream”™s come true. I didn”™t do it alone. It wouldn”™t have been possible without the generosity of our members, who have donated millions of dollars and many amenities that were donated ”“ like the baby grand piano ”“ they made that possible. We are indeed blessed.”
Sounds like the rest of the community-whether Jewish or non-Jewish ”“ echoes his sentiments. Hebrew teacher Ruth Pernick of Nanuet was “in on the ground floor. We pledged for five years. Before, I never used the old JCC-Y gym. Now I”™m here every day. There”™s no excuse. And when the kids see the new cafeteria, they”™re even more excited.”
Analysis? By popular vote, the JCC is the best thing that”™s happened to Rockland since aspirin.
