New Washington YMCA on track to open June 1

WASHINGTON - The Washington YMCA may currently be closed to the public due to COVID-19 but construction has continued and the grand opening for June 1 still is on track.

Director Amy Schulte said once the fire marshal gives approval on May 14, staff will begin to move in May 16. However, it is uncertain if the public will actually be able to enter the building on June 1.

'We certainly hope to be able to,” she said, adding she is following the governor's instructions on how to proceed.

The Y board of directors met on Tuesday, April 28 to discuss the plan for moving forward. In an email, Schulte said the administration will monitor how the YMCA's in the 77 counties that have partially reopened will operate and decisions will be influenced by that success, but currently the tentative plan is to offer classes in the new facility.

'The current proclamation from the governor does state that fitness class settings need to follow the 10 or less people in a group and maintaining at least six feet apart at all times. We would look to moving our in-person classes to our larger areas in our building such as our gymnasiums or even outside if the weather permits. We will not offer our senior fitness classes until the governor lifts her recommendations that vulnerable Iowans continue to social distance since those classes are typically active older adults,” she said. 'We will continue to offer virtual fitness class options for our members that are not comfortable with returning to an in-person class.”

Child care, Meals on Wheels and senior outreach has continued despite the building not being open to the public for fitness purposes, she said.

'Its been incredible to continue to provide that service to the families in the community,” she said.

Across the state of Iowa there are 26 YMCA organizations and all directors have been meeting weekly, she said, to discuss their plans of action. Nationally, the YMCA has only seen a 4 percent decrease in membership use due to COVID-19.

Until it is safe for the public to enter, staff will move into the building and begin to work on inventory to determine what supplies, mainly disinfectant and cleaning, will be needed for the larger space. Schulte said she does not want to open the building to the public until it is certain there will be enough resources to keep it clean due to COVID-19 concerns.

Once the building is open, Schulte said she is most looking forward to the indoor walking track as well as the new gym that will act as an opportunity to share more space with the public.

'That's one of the biggest areas we have been lacking in our older facility,” she said. 'That will be exciting to reach not only the younger kids but to have more space for pickle ball courts and adult leagues.”