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YMCA Fort Worth to Reopen Facilities after Closure Due to COVID-19

May 15,2020

Phased reopening plan to begin on Friday, May 22nd and continue in the coming weeks

Fort Worth, Texas – Friday, May 15, 2020— The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth is looking forward to welcoming back members, seeing active older adults and continuing to provide programs and solutions to keep people healthy in mind, body and spirit.  After closing its facilities in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Y is working towards a phased reopening plan that will begin on Friday, May 22nd and continue through June. 

For the safety for YMCA members, program participants and staff, the Fort Worth Y is being very thoughtful and intentional about how branches and programs reopen. With counsel of medical experts and best practices from other YMCA’s around the country, a phased reopening is planned under the guidance of state and local authorities and will unfold in 3 phases:

Phase 1 - Friday, May 22nd:  Hood County YMCA

Phase 2 - Monday, June 1st:

    • Airport Area YMCA
    • Amon G. Carter, Jr. Downtown YMCA
    • Benbrook Community YMCA
    • Joshua YMCA
    • Northpark YMCA
    • Northwest YMCA
    • Ryan Family YMCA
    • William M. McDonald YMCA

Phase 3 - To be determined:

    • Eastside YMCA
    • YMCA Camp Carter
    • Summer programs including Day Camp

Tony Shuman, President and CEO explains “As we prepare to reopen our doors, please be assured the safety of all our members, program participants, staff and volunteers - is our number one priority. We are following guidelines from health experts and local officials to ensure that our facilities meet the highest standards for hygiene and safety, and we have modified our policies and programs to facilitate safe social distancing practices.”

The Y plans to help keep members and staff safe by having limited facility hours to ensure sufficient time for cleaning, allowing limited access to certain equipment and areas in the facility, keeping locker rooms closed and promoting social distancing. Facilities will allow 25% capacity, adhering to guidelines by the CDC and local health officials.

Additionally, Y staff will be wearing face masks/coverings and encourages members to do the same. Members will be asked to limit their time in the Y to 60 minutes to allow other members to visit while capacity is limited. All indoor and outdoor pools will be accessible with limited activities and capacity measures when facilities open. Upon reopening, all Y members will now have access to any YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth facility for added convenience during limited operations.

“We are so excited to be opening our doors again and welcome back our members, our family.” says Jacklinn Sotello, MPH, CPH, Associate Vice President of Membership Experience & Healthy Living. “Exercise is key to a healthy mind and body. Physical activity is a natural anti-anxiety treatment and helps to boost our immune systems. Which everyone can benefit from at a time like this! For those that are unable to join us inside our facilities, we will continue to offer our group exercise classes virtually so that our members can receive those same benefits from home.”

“When we closed our facilities in May, we did so to protect the health and well-being of all our staff, volunteers, members and participants. As we now reopen our facilities, we do so with that same commitment to keeping everyone who enters our doors safe,” said Julie Wilson, Board Chair for the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth.

Additional reopening plans for camps, youth sports, day camps, and more are also be developed More information will be made available online at www.ymcafw.org/REOPENING.

About YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth

With 130 years of service to the Fort Worth area, the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth serves more than 150,000 unique individuals on an annual basis. Its work impacts our community daily through programs that emphasize youth development, encourage healthy living, and empower social responsibility. The non-profit organization offers diverse family programs including youth sports, youth and government, camping, childcare, swimming and drowning prevention, wellness, diabetes management, and senior-specific adult programs in addition to fitness memberships. The Y has branches in Tarrant, Johnson, and Hood counties. Additionally, it owns and operates YMCA Camp Carter, a year-round facility offering both day-camp programs and residential opportunities for youth.  It also owns and operates the YMCA Sports Complex in southwest Fort Worth, providing soccer, baseball, and other youth sports opportunities. For more information visit www.ymcafw.org.

Location Mentioned: YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth