CultureMap Video

Inside the Texans YMCA at Martin Luther King Boulevard: Mease would love thehope

The new Texans YMCA
Photo by John Lindy
The YMCA features a daycare center.
Photo by John Lindy
The new Texans YMCA's exercise room features all-new equipment with personalizedfitness programs.
Photo by John Lindy
The gym can accommodate two simultaneous basketball games, volleyball games andspecial events.
Photo by John Lindy
A seating area outside the gym allows members to relax after workouts.
Photo by John Lindy

The Houston Texans want to be about more than just football, as shown by the NFL franchise's recent team up with the YMCA to build a new location in the Third Ward. Located at 5202 Griggs at the corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard, the Texans YMCA represents a touchdown for the surrounding community.

Spread across nearly five acres of land, the sparkling new facility greets visitors with a welcome center dedicated in honor of the late Quentin R. Mease, founder of South Center Family YMCA in 1948. Local residents are already benefiting from programs in health and wellness, child care and recreational and youth development.

One midday afternoon last week, the facility was already being enjoyed by a slew of visitors taking advantage of a breathtaking array of new equipment. Also notable is the structure's emphasis on green design, with such features as recycled composite floors and low-flow shower heads.

The surprise bonus? A locker room gadget that will squeeze excess water from bathing suits for swimmers on the go.

A comprehensive children's waterworks will provide a welcome splash during Houston's prolonged summer heat — in a part of the city where everyone does not have air conditioning at home.

The building represents the first in what the Texans suggest will be a series of further investments in the Houston community, all part of the team's goal of becoming the most community-connected professional sports franchise in the world. The team foresees future partnerships with the YMCA.

Take a tour of the new Texans YMCA with CultureMap:

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