NEW LOOK FOR THE Y; MID-VALLEY FACILITY GETS MAKEOVER.

Byline: Jesse Hiestand Staff Writer

The first YMCA built in the San Fernando Valley officially introduced its new look Thursday after a year of renovations and an overhaul of programs to put more emphasis on family activities.

The building at 6901 Lennox Ave. sports a fresh coat of green paint with red and blue trim, spruced-up landscaping and more security lighting in the parking lot.

With those improvements and the addition of 15 new staff members who are bilingual, the center hopes to draw more members from the surrounding Van Nuys neighborhood and its growing Latino population.

``They've really improved it, and so they should because so many people use it,'' said Linda Garcia, 43, of Canoga Park, who visits the YMCA twice a week to do physical therapy in its pool.

She welcomed both the cosmetic touches, like the remodeled lobby, and new exercise bikes and treadmills.

Executive director Hwa Stacy said membership had been in decline in recent years as many longtime users moved out of the area and new residents did not know about their local Y or see a need to visit.

``This YMCA was losing community support and we needed to find out if we were needed,'' Stacy said. ``We did a survey and the community responded and said they'd very much like to have it and asked that we make some changes in services.''

Changes made include more bilingual staff, more aerobics classes, a nutrition program and plans to set aside time in the gym for family recreation, she said.

Dating back to 1945 as the San Fernando Valley's first chapter of the Young Men's Christian Association, the Mid-Valley center was rededicated Thursday at a ceremony hosted by staff and Los Angeles Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski.

``We've heard so many stories of kids having nothing to do after school except go to the mall but now they have a place with an after-school computer center, study area, mentors to help them study and role models,'' Miscikowski said.

``This is going to be a tremendous asset and meet the growing needs of families in the Mid-Valley/Van Nuys area.''

Among $650,000 in improvements to the facility are a new computer room where kids can study or adults can get software training on a network of 17 terminals.

For the exercise-minded, there is a weight room, handball and racquetball court, aerobic studio, pool, full-sized gym, and separate adult and youth locker rooms. Free baby-sitting is also available to members, who pay a monthly fee to use the center. The center also offers licensed day care and a child care program. As for activities, this YMCA, one of four in the Valley, offers fitness, aquatics, nutrition, weight management, health screening and rehabilitation.

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Photo: (1--2) Improvements at the Mid-Valley YMCA include a weight room converted from a racquetball court, above, and a new exterior.

Eric Grigorian/Special to the Daily News