New Hope’s YMCA is closing next month.
The Board of Directors for the Frank P. Phillips Memorial YMCA, which has branches in downtown Columbus, Caledonia and New Hope, announced today the branch will close Aug. 31.
New Hope’s YMCA, located on Lake Lowndes Road, has been open since 2001.
YMCA Executive Director Andy Boyd relayed the news to members of the New Hope YMCA during a length Wednesday morning meeting. During the meeting, which lasted about 90 minutes, he said the board of directors decided to close the New Hope branch because it has struggled to generate enough revenue to remain open.
“If we were making a dime here, or breaking even or close, we wouldn’t be having this meeting,” Boyd said. “We have been way in the red for years.”
Boyd told members the New Hope branch saw a roughly $50,000 deficit last year and is tracking toward the same deficit this year.
All memberships at the Frank P. Phillips Memorial YMCA Association are valid at the Columbus and Caledonia locations, and New Hope members will be able to continue to access the association’s programs and services at the other locations.
A few dozen members turned out for Wednesday’s meeting at the New Hope YMCA. Thursday’s Dispatch will have more in-depth coverage of the meeting and decision to close the YMCA.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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