Sep. 19—A partnership between the Greater Scranton YMCA and the recreation board of Hillside Park meant to fill gaps for residents of the Abingtons continues to grow.

After bringing group exercise classes to the Hillside Park Community Center at the beginning of this year, the Dunmore YMCA expanded its reach with outdoor activities at the South Abington Twp. park.

Now the YMCA plans to offer chronic disease programming at the center while still trying to launch an after-school program as part of its ongoing partnership with the volunteer-led Abington Area Joint Recreation Board.

"All the stuff that we do here, we're trying to bring it up to the Abingtons where it's a little more underserved," said Greater Scranton YMCA Health and Wellness Director Brandon Whipple.

The recreation board selected the YMCA last year after issuing a request for proposals for a partner interested in collaborating on programs and infrastructure development at Hillside Park.

The YMCA previously conducted an assessment with Abingtons residents to see what needs exist in their communities, which informed plans for programming at Hillside. Around 20% of the YMCA's membership comes from the Abingtons, Whipple said.

Along with exercise classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, the YMCA hosted educational nature programs, a CPR course and more over the summer at Hillside.

"We're definitely getting families that are coming out to take it every time we're running them, and they really seem to like them," said Rich Surridge, chief financial officer/chief operating officer of the Greater Scranton YMCA.

In the near future, officials want to bring diabetes prevention and related programs to Hillside. Staff with "We are Y," a program for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their families, have also used the park for activities.

Though plans didn't pan out in time for the 2022-23 school year, Surridge said YMCA officials still plan to start an after-school program at Hillside for Abington Heights elementary students.

There are a lot of moving parts with getting such a program up and running, and the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays, he said.

"It's taking time, but we're hoping in the future that we can make it come together," he said.

Mark Spatz, co-chair of the AAJRB, said he's glad to see the Y offering programming at Hillside. It's been a good partnership between the services the Y provides and the facilities the park has available, he added.

"I think it's just a betterment for our community as a whole," Spatz said.

Surridge said the organizations keep working together and sharing resources to see how they can fill the community's needs.

"We're hoping that the partnership continues to grow and there's more opportunities that come up in the future," he said.

For information about YMCA programs at Hillside Park, visit greaterscrantonymca.org or either organization's Facebook page.

Contact the writer:

bwilliams@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5365;

@BWilliamsTT on Twitter.

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