CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — According to a social media post from the YMCA of the Coastal Bend, it is temporarily closing its doors until further notice, effective Wednesday, Oct.30.
The release states that a recent assessment of the facility was done, and it was determined that it is in the best interest of the YMCA to temporarily close the facility to make a number of repairs and improvements.
The release stated, "We recognize that this is inconvenient for our staff, members, and everyone who relies on our programs and facility. "
"I wouldn't have came if I would've known they were closed," Reymundo Rodriguez a parent who attends the 'Y' with his son said.
Rodriguez has been going to the “Y” for nearly two months. He said he loves coming here because it helps keep his son stay out of trouble.
“ It teaches them work skills, how to prepare their minds, so that when they become an adult they have a taste of what it is to be in a public place with buisness people,” he said.
Many were caught off guard—-members showed up on Wednesday morning completely unaware of the closure. Rodriguez was one of them.
"It kind of threw a lot of people off track because alot of people have a routine of waking up early and even the ones that come in at night time because alot of people like to work out and alot of people like to stay motivated,"Rodriguez added.
YMCA offers the youth an opportunity to do community services hours if they have gotten into any kind of trouble with the law.
He said this is the perfect place for not only his son but also for adults. YMCA offers survices from boxing, to swimming to even zumba.
They currently serve 1,300 members of all ages.
Taylor Alanis a YMCA board member said the building is 85 years old and these improvements will help better serve their members. She said the YMCA will always make sure the safety and security of everyone who enters its doors is top priority.
“We’re a family and we want to be honest with the people that come here and need our services and that’s a lot of the community that is under privileged, we want to make sure everyone has a chance to live a healthy happy life,”Alanis said.
“I noticed that when I walked in here the first time, it excited him to see the basketball court, and this place is a great place for them to learn and learn to be members of society,“ Rodriguez added.
As for current members Alanis said the YWCA has offered to open their doors and all current members of the YMCA are allowed to use their facility at no additional cost.
" We just want to make sure that everything is nice and improved so that the community could continue to take advantage of all the services," Alanis added.
There are currently 80 employess at the YMCA and this temporary closure will not affect their jobs.
The 'Y' does ask the community for patience as they are working hard to provide a safe and healthy enviorment.
As of right now, it is still unknown when the facility will open its doors again to the public, but KRIS 6 News will make sure to keep you updated with the latest information as it becomes available.
