MARTINS FERRY — A partnership between Martins Ferry Rec Center and Wheeling YMCA will bridge the gap for Ohio Valley residents to stay active as the YMCA finishes up its construction project.

Wheeling YMCA executive director Adam Shinsky said that he was approached to see if he had any interest in running some programs at the Martin Ferry Rec Center while the YMCA is under construction.

“We have a big renovation going on. It’s not going to be done until January. So we thought it’d be a really good idea,” Shinsky said. “For the next three months, we’re going to have a senior citizens fitness class on Thursday mornings, 10:30-11:30 a.m. We’re going to have an adult fitness class in the evenings, 5:30- 6:30 p.m. And then on Thursdays for the next three weeks, we’re going to have a skills and drills basketball clinic for basketball players third through sixth grade.”

The skills and drills clinic will be led by former college basketball player Asia Roby and will take place from 6:45-8 p.m.

He added that fees are $5 a person for the fitness classes and $25 for the skills and drills basketball clinic which will include all three sessions in its price.

Shinsky said there are registration forms for the kids programs and, if a family is unable to pay the fee, financial assistance is available.

The first senior citizens classes began this past Thursday.

Martins Ferry Mayor John Davies said that he expects the programs to start slow but pick up the more residents learn about the programs being offered. Shinsky said that if anyone is interested in financial assistance for any of the programs to contact the Wheeling YMCA at 304-242-8086.

He added that the senior citizen program is crucial during the colder months because it’s important to keep them active.

“With modern medicine now the life expectancy is on the rise. And you combine that with a regular fitness routine that we can offer. There’s a lot of good options to keep our seniors and our adult population healthy,” Shinsky said.

The remodeling project is set to be done on January 6.

Shinsky said it will have a new indoor walking and running track, brand new fitness center, training room with turf, renovations to both gymnasiums, a new childcare room that’s three times the size of the old one, and several new programs.

Davies then said that he believes the partnership is a win-win for the city and for the YMCA.

“They’re helping us and we’re helping them. It just provides a service to all of the people in the whole valley, not just Martins Ferry, and I just think it’s a great thing,” Davies said. “I’m glad that they considered us as a partner, because I’m sure they have multiple places to go, and they chose our rec center to partner with. So it’s a great thing for the city and it’s a great thing for the Y.”

He added that the partnership also brings Ohio Valley residents into the city. As well as giving Martins Ferry residents more options to use the rec center.

Davies said that Shinsky and the Wheeling YMCA have been great partners and easy to work with and he is looking forward to continuing working together.