“We’re sorry to see this happening to the YMCA, but Special Kids is not going anywhere,” said Lisa McBride, founder of the Special Kids Foundation. “We were partnered on that piece of land with the YMCA to build the playground and I’m very confident that the City of Oakley will stand with us. The need is great and we will get it built.”
YMCA officials announced last week that a continued downturn in the economy and a drying up of donations has caused the organization to close its Oakley and Clayton sites. Plans for an expansion at the San Ramon facility has also been shelved, but the Pleasant Hill location will remain open.
Repeated calls to the YMCA’s public relations company, Trainer Communications, were not returned.
News of the closure of East County’s only YMCA came as a surprise to Oakley’s leaders, who only six months ago had reached their community fundraising goal of $400,000 for the construction of a new facility on the 6-acre parcel owned by the city.
The project – a joint venture with the Special Kids Foundation – was slated to include a new 25,000-square-foot facility featuring aerobics, cardiovascular and strength-training facilities plus a health and fitness center and the all-abilities playground for children with physical disabilities.
Oakley City Councilman Jim Frasier, whose SMF Construction company planned to donate the construction of the Oakley all-abilities playground, said the project is still a priority.
“As far as I’m concerned, the commitment is still there. We just need to work through the proper channels,” said Frasier. “But it depends on what use my fellow council members have for utilizing this space. It’s disappointing to have lost two years on this project.”
Plans for the property remain in flux, but Oakley City Manager Bryan Montgomery said the city – which has been leasing the property to the YMCA for $1 per year for the past six years – is exploring a number of options.
“We’re certainly disappointed, but we’ll look to see how we can best utilize the land,” said Montgomery. “We may be able to keep the modulars that are on the property and then repurpose them, perhaps keep some of the (YMCA) classes and programs continuing for the immediate future.”
As for the Special Kids playground, “There are several areas where the project could go over the 6 acres,” Montgomery said, “but we’re still determining what the next step will be. We just don’t know everything yet.”
The YMCA’s gym facilities aren’t the only areas taking a hit. In East County, a number of YMCA childcare centers have already been shut down. Both Discovery Bay Elementary and Timber Point Elementary sites were abruptly closed last week, leaving dozens of families without before and/or after school child care.
And the news just keeps getting worse, said Toni Hay, a YMCA childcare provider at the John Muir Health Center in Antioch.
“Hundreds of families are being affected by these closures,” said Hay, who was told that her childcare location would remain open. “The YMCA has such a great sense of tradition, but I have to say I’m not at all surprised by what’s happening. It’s been clear they have been struggling for some time. It’s really too bad.”
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