HOUSTON — Good news from The YMCA of Greater Houston. They will reopen centers and some amenities on June 1, as part of of a phased plan to return to offering fitness-related programs and services.
The Y says they will continue to follow enhanced health and safety measures throughout this phased approach.
During this phase, amenities include:
- Outdoor group exercise capacity will be determined by the square footage of the defined activity area per 120 sq. ft., meaning there should be 10-12 feet between participants
- For the aquatic environments, the Y will be conducting chemical checks every hour, sanitizing pool decks daily and regularly cleaning rails, handles, etc.
- Members will be required to register for classes online and to check-in upon arrival
- Members are encouraged to wear face masks while checking in and waiting for their activity to begin; a majority of staff will be required to wear facemasks (based on area of work)
- Lockers, showers and changing facilities will not be available, although toilet facilities will be available for use
- Water fountains and bottle fillers will be closed – members are encouraged to bring their own
- Members should bring their own towel and yoga mat
- Members will be temperature checked upon entry
Amenities and facilities available June 1 include:
For outdoor group exercise, lap swimming, summer day/teen camp or child care for essential personnel
- Fort Bend Family YMCA
- Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA
- Lake Houston Family YMCA
- Langham Creek Family YMCA
- Mark A. Chapman YMCA
- D. Bradley McWilliams YMCA
- The Woodlands YMCA at Shadowbend
- Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA
- Trotter Family YMCA
- WD Ley Family YMCA
- Weekley Family YMCA
For outdoor group exercise and lap swimming only
- The Woodlands YMCA at Branch Crossing
- Brenda and John Duncan YMCA
- Monty Ballard YMCA at Cinco Ranch
- Perry Family YMCA
- Vic Coppinger Family YMCA
For summer day/teen camp (through September 1)
- Alief Family YMCA
- Conroe Family YMCA
- EA Smith Family YMCA
- MD Anderson Family YMCA
- Houston Texans YMCA
- Thelma Ley Anderson YMCA
- TW Davis Family YMCA
- West Orem Family YMCA
“We are looking forward to seeing members June 1 swimming in the pool, doing group exercise outside and teens and children connecting with each other in a safe camp environment,” said Stephen Ives, President and CEO, YMCA of Greater Houston. “While things may not be the same, we have to adhere to social distancing and take precautions to do our part to keep the community safe.”
YMCA of Greater Houston will announce reopen timing at a later date for other programs and services such as fitness centers, indoor group exercise, child watch, additional youth programs and more.
“As we get more comfortable and understand the processes that need to take place and see how things happen in our community, we will gradually reopen much of what was happening before,” Ives said.
He said all centers will comply with orders and recommendations set forth by Gov. Greg Abbott, Centers for Disease Control and local officials.
YMCA of Greater Houston’s Summer Day Camp and Teen Camp teams are preparing for a safe summer experience for kids, though it will look different from summers past. The YMCA offers day camp for youth ages 5-11 and teen camp for youth 12-15. Additional details regarding registration and session dates can be found here.
Here are some of the guidelines that the YMCA of Greater Houston plans to follow for summer camps.
- Restricted access to child care/camp spaces to only staff and participants
- Small group sizes with a 1:9 ratio with a significantly reduced capacity for the entire camp program
- Separate rooms for each group of young people with the same staff each day
- Multiple temperature checks and health screenings each day
- Social distancing throughout the entire program
- Scheduled handwashing and access to hand sanitizer
- Staff are currently wearing face masks in our essential child care program and will continue this practice during day camp
- Increased cleaning and disinfecting processes throughout the day
As the Y’s commitment to the community, the organization will not draft member dues for the month of June while the phased approach is being implemented. All active members whether on hold or contributing will be welcomed back. The Y is grateful to the members who have opted into contributions in support of our response efforts.
The reopened centers will operate Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the exception for summer camps and child care. Schedules for outdoor group exercise and lap swimming will be available on the YMCA of Greater Houston website no later than Tuesday, May 26. Members and the community are encouraged to stay engaged through the virtual YMCA platform offering exercise classes, activities for kids and families, and multiple opportunities for connection.
While the buildings were closed during COVID-19, the YMCA of Greater Houston continued to serve the community in unique and impactful ways. From child care for essential personnel to food distribution and well checks for seniors, the Y is continuing to play an integral role in the community during this crisis. The Y will continue to offer these services for individuals in need. To date, the YMCA of Greater Houston has:
- Distributed 5 million lbs. of food at 26 locations and five opportunity centers in partnership with the Houston Food Bank, Montgomery County Food Bank and Brighter Bites, serving over 347,000 individuals
- Served over 10,000 seniors through wellness checks, comfort cards and meal deliveries
- Transformed 12 of its centers to host childcare for essential personnel, caring for 668 children to date
- Provided virtual content to over 30,000 individuals per week
Additional updates on specific plans can be found on the YMCA of Greater Houston www.ymcahouston.org and Facebook @YMCAHouston and Instagram @YMCAHouston.