YMCA Niagara is closing the doors to its St Catharines Walker Family building.
The announcement came on Wednesday afternoon in a statement from the organization.
YMCA said it will be selling the building, following increasing financial pressure amidst dwindling membership numbers and rising maintenance costs for the 27-year-old centre that hosts a range of fitness facilities, as well as child care facilities.
The organization called the decision 'very difficult.'
"We truly believe that the sale of the Walker Family YMCA is a step we must take to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the Association helping to ensure we can continue serving the community of St. Catharines and the Niagara Region for many years to come," said board chair Mike Watt in a comment.
The Walker YMCA closed to the public during the pandemic but opened up during a brief window of time before closing again on December 26.
Earlier this year, the organization announced that it will be closing its location at the MacBain Community Centre in Niagara Falls, also citing membership loss as the primary reason.
YMCA said it has the intention of providing alternative child care options for current licensed child care families, and is exploring the option of relocating the EarlyOn Child and Family Centre.
'In the interim, there are no immediate impacts to the Walker Child Care services,' said the statement.
Despite the hardships, Watt said that the organization has no plans to close down further locations.
Full membership programs will not resume at the Walker YMCA Centre, however, the YMCA is considering offering programs such as summer Day Camp, EarlyON and some pre-registered health and fitness programs when it is safe to do so.
Licensed Child Care operations have continued without interruption as well as a range of virtual programs for EarlyON, community outreach, health and fitness and children’s programs which can be accessed through the website.
