EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 After serving El Paso\u2019s Northeast community for more than six decades, the Bowling Family YMCA is set to close this spring.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The closure follows the expiration of the YMCA\u2019s 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\u2019s condition, location and associated costs.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
This was not an easy decision,\u201d said Gilda Gil, CEO of the YMCA of El Paso. \u201cFor 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.<\/p>\n
Officials had asked the YMCA to consider extending its lease or entering into a short-term agreement to maintain access to the facility\u2019s pool during the summer months, particularly as the nearby Veterans Pool remains under repair. The YMCA declined that request, city officials said.<\/p>\n
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,\u201d said City Manager Dionne Mack. \u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 140th anniversary celebration, honoring the branch\u2019s decades of impact.<\/p>\n