EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — After serving El Paso’s Northeast community for more than six decades, the Bowling Family YMCA is set to close this spring.

The YMCA of El Paso announced that the Bowling Family YMCA, which has operated in the Northeast since 1959, will close effective May 15 and the City of El Paso will regain control of the facility.

The closure follows the expiration of the YMCA’s lease with the City of El Paso, which owns the facility. The YMCA said it evaluated renewal options but determined continuing operations at the location was not financially sustainable because of the facility’s condition, location and associated costs.

The YMCA has operated the Bowling Branch facility, which is owned by the City, since 1960 under a symbolic $1-per-year lease agreement, officials with the city said.

This was not an easy decision,” said Gilda Gil, CEO of the YMCA of El Paso. “For generations, the Bowling Family YMCA has been more than a building. It has been a place where families connected, children grew, and community thrived. As we look to the future, we must ensure that our resources are invested in ways that allow us to sustainably serve the evolving needs of El Paso. Our commitment to the Northeast community remains strong, and we are actively working on new partnerships to continue programs and providing services in the area.

Officials had asked the YMCA to consider extending its lease or entering into a short-term agreement to maintain access to the facility’s pool during the summer months, particularly as the nearby Veterans Pool remains under repair. The YMCA declined that request, city officials said.

We are disappointed to see the YMCA leave this City-owned facility, particularly given the role it has played in serving families in this area,” said City Manager Dionne Mack. “We also asked the YMCA to consider a short-term arrangement that would have helped maintain pool access for the community while Veterans Pool remains under repair, but they were not willing to extend the lease or continue services on that basis.

The Bowling Family YMCA will remain open through May 15 to allow members, staff and the community time to transition. A farewell and appreciation event is scheduled for May 12 as part of the YMCA of El Paso’s 140th anniversary celebration, honoring the branch’s decades of impact.

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Members will be offered the opportunity to transfer their memberships to other YMCA locations, including the Fred & Maria Loya Family YMCA on the Eastside and the Westside Family YMCA. The YMCA said members who transfer will receive their first month free, and memberships will continue to provide access to facilities nationwide.

With the YMCA’s departure, the City will formally accept the lease termination, transition the property back under municipal control, and begin evaluating its future use through the City’s Parks Master Plan process.

The YMCA said it is working to relocate key programs — including summer camp, after-school care and youth sports — to alternative locations within the Northeast to maintain continuity of service.

The YMCA also said it is committed to supporting staff during the transition, and current Bowling Family YMCA employees will be offered opportunities to interview for positions at other YMCA branches where available.

Founded in 1886, the YMCA of El Paso said it has served the community for 140 years and has continued to evolve to meet changing needs. “The Y has always adapted to serve where it is needed most,” Gil said. “This moment is about honoring our past while building a stronger, more sustainable future for our community.”

The closure creates a temporary gap in public pool access for residents in the area, as Veterans Pool is not expected to reopen until later this summer. City officials say they will assess the facility’s condition, community needs, and long-term possibilities for the site as part of broader planning efforts.

Potential future uses for the property could include reinvestment in recreational services, partnerships with other organizations, or alternative community-focused developments, city officials said.

District 4 City Representative Cynthia Boyar Trejo acknowledged the challenges posed by the transition but emphasized the City’s commitment to long-term planning.

“This transition is not the outcome we hoped for, but we are committed to planning responsibly for the future of this site,” Trejo said. “We will continue looking at how this property can best serve the community over the long term.”

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