Thursday, May 21, 2020
Hello All,
We’re excited to be back open, welcoming back our members into our facilities this week. Our gradual reopening began Wednesday, May 20 with access to our wellness centers for exercise and our pools for lap swim. Additional access to our facilities and programs will be phased in over the coming days and weeks.
Our doors may have been closed, but the Y hasn’t stopped serving the community. We’ve been hard at work providing emergency services to essential workers, families and our neighbors in need. You’ll read more about this critical work in this newsletter. We will continue to engage and serve all people where they are, including through virtual offerings and outreach services for those who continue to shelter at home and those who need special support during these challenging times.
In addition to growing our capacity to serve youth in this unique environment, the Y has collaborated with the American Camp Association to create educational resources for camps, parents, and campers as well as state and local health departments. Also engaged in the process was an independent expert panel that included specialists in pediatric medicine, epidemiology, infectious disease management, biological safety and industrial hygiene. Learn more and review these resources. You will read more about those healthy practices in this newsletter as we share the extra steps the Y is taking to keep our youth safe this summer.
Likewise, we have put careful thought and planning into the reopening of our YMCA centers. We have followed guidance from the CDC and government officials to update our policies, practices and procedures to ensure the highest standards of cleanliness. We also made appropriate accommodations for social distancing to create a safer environment as our members get back to focusing on their health and their community at the Y. We encourage you to review the detailed list of extra precautions we’re taking as we deliberately phase in areas and amenities as we grow back to full capacity.
While we cannot predict the long-term effects of COVID-19, we are committed to doing whatever is necessary to ensure the safety of our members and staff. The way we’ll interact with each other will be different, but at the Y, you’ll always be able to connect with people, improve your health and wellness, nurture your children’s potential and help strengthen our community.
Although we are back open, we encourage our members to return at their own pace and when they feel comfortable. We care about our members and their well-being. The Y is more than a gym…we are a community. Thank you for your continued support and welcome back to the Y!
Matt Mitchell
President & CEO