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With a focus on community, wellness and families, Altoona Campus, a nonprofit United Way of Central Iowa agency, expanded its facility to meet rising demands.

“We are a family facility,” said Bruce Mason, executive director of Altoona Campus. “As we grew the adult area (of our own operation to match growth in the community), we knew we needed to also grow opportunities for the youth. Mom can come and do aerobics, dad can lift weights, son can shoot baskets and daughter can swim.”

The grand opening for Altoona Campus’ expanded facility was Jan. 5. Construction of the 23,000-square-foot addition, bringing the total building size up to 73,000 square feet, began in 2006.

A youth and family gym (a two-court gym with an interactive climbing wall from Sportwall International Inc.), a kids’ cardio center (with child-size equipment and Dance Dance Revolution), an additional racquetball court (for a total of three), and enlarged adult weight and cardio workout areas were added.

“We try to be something that adds to the quality of life,” Mason said.

Future expansion for Altoona Campus includes elevating the jogging track and creating a “zero-depth” area in the pool with spray features for children.

Along with the expansion of the facility, Altoona Campus is extending off-site services aligned with its mission “to strengthen body, mind, and community.”

“We are trying to look into things we can do outside of this building,” Mason said.

Altoona Campus is now hosting an ongoing wellness series at the Altoona Public Library. During the summer, the organization manages the city’s aquatic park.

Kids Klub, a before- and after-school care program serving kindergarten through sixth-grade students in the Southeast Polk Community School District, is offered by Altoona Campus along with United Way. Throughout the school year, more than 250 kids participate in the program; around 120 children join the all-day summer session.

Altoona Campus, which serves more than 6,500 members in the southeast Polk region, began as a YWCA in 1992. In 1996, it broke away to become an independent nonprofit organization; membership drives funding. The organization now has 130 employees year-round and 260 staff members during the summer.

“We have grown a lot over the last few years as a city,” Mason said. “It has been nice to see people of all ages, from young kids all the way to seniors, using our facility.”