Calabasas, CA. - (May. 14, 2019) -
Westlake Village resident Kristin Karst, co-founder and executive vice president of AmaWaterways, was pleased to attend the official grand opening of the Yarrow Family YMCA in Westlake Village. The weeklong celebrations were launched with an official ribbon cutting ceremony followed by an open house where Karst was on hand to engage with visitors in the multi-purpose main lounge created in recognition of AmaWaterways’ contribution to the project.
Many AmaWaterways employees and river cruise guests live in the area surrounding the Yarrow YMCA and will benefit from the facilities that include a fitness center, eight-lane indoor lap pool, warm water pool, gymnasium, group exercise classes, meeting space, café and lounge. A Kids' Zone, for kids age six weeks to 12 years, offers childcare and age-specific STEAM-based sensory learning while parents use the facility. The new AmaWaterways’ sponsored lounge area was designed to provide a perfect place for family members to meet up after participating in different activities or classes.
“AmaWaterways is a family company welcoming multi-generational travelers on board our river cruise ships and we are very proud to participate in a community project whose goal is to offer activities geared to healthy living and bringing together three generations of families in one shared facility,” said Karst. “We know how enriching travel can be at any age and we hope that by sharing these lovely river cruise photos in the beautiful lounge area, we have helped create a relaxing and inspirational rendezvous point for families for years to come.”
Calabasas-based AmaWaterways, the leader in active, luxury river cruising, proudly supports a variety of community outreach projects involving young people, healthy living and the arts, like the Calabasas Film Festival and Tiny Porch Concerts. On a larger scale, AmaWaterways’ recent sponsorship of the AAA Discovery Crew river cruise provided an opportunity for 56 eighth grade students to widen their understanding of the world through travel and interaction with students from the Netherlands and Belgium.
"The idea for a YMCA in Westlake Village began 20 years ago," says Ronnie Stone, President/CEO of the Southeast Ventura County YMCA. "After years of planning, designing, fundraising and construction, the 60,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art Yarrow Family YMCA is finally finished. It can now begin to fulfill the YMCA's mission—impact lives, strengthen our community and insure everyone has an opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.”
The Yarrow Y, a branch of the Southeast Ventura County YMCA, is located at 31105 Thousand Oaks Blvd. in Westlake Village and serves Westlake Village, Agoura Hills and Oak Park.