Little Rock, Ark. (KTHV) -- The YMCA of Metropolitan Little Rock today announced plans to close its facility on Sam Peck Road, known as the "West Side Y," after more than 35 years of operation. This comes after the North Little Rock YMCA shut down in March.
It's a trend we've seen across the nation. Businesses are closing, and workers losing their jobs. The YMCA isn't immune. 40 employees at Westside YMCA will be without jobs starting in the new year.
The employees aren't the only ones losing something. Members and guests will no longer have a facility to take part in the many of the programs the YMCA offered.
The outdoor pool at Westside YMCA sits empty during the winter months. But come May, it won't be reopening.
"Well, we made the decision last week," says Tedd Maxfield, Executive Director of YMCA Little Rock.
"We wanted to make sure we gave our staff as much notice as we could before they were displaced. And so we wanted to let them know as early as we could," he adds.
The YMCA board of directors informed staff Monday and Tuesday that the facility on Sam Peck would be shutting its doors.
"It was a very difficult decision. The board of directors is very cognizant of the fact that this means a lot to a number participants, members and program participants and kids through seniors," says Maxfield.
This particular YMCA location opened a little more than 35 years ago. And for some of the employees, it's the only job they've had.
"Our personnel policy does have some severance built into it for some of our employees. Others will just be unemployed and looking for work," adds Maxfield.
40 employees work at Westside YMCA, and six of those work full time.
"We've got some good folks and I hope some local employers take advantage of that."
Maxfield says the economy was a factor in closing the center, but not the only one.
"It's hard to say. In part, our facilities have deteriorated a little bit. And, in part, there's increased competition. With the membership trends that we've had, maintaining the facility just hasn't been feasible. Probably a number of other factors as well."
As for the future, Maxfield says the YMCA will continue.
"I've heard it referred to as a YMCA without walls. We will be a non-facility YMCA, sometimes that's called a store-front YMCA. We will continue maintain in little rock and the little rock metropolitan area."
A representative with the national YMCA tells Today's THV it's not uncommon to have a YMCA "without walls." He says there are about 2,700 facilities across the U.S. and roughly 7% of those operate without a facility. He also says that YMCA's are reflective of their surrounding community's economic state. However, there are more YMCA's opening than closing in a given year in the U.S.
The YMCA board of directors is still working out some details, including where they'll hold some of their programs. It anticipates closing the Sam Peck Road facility on or shortly after December 31. Inquiries about purchasing the building should be directed to property@ymcalr.org.