Lake Wales branch of YMCA to cease operations in October after three years
The YMCA of West Central Florida will close the Lake Wales branch and end its relationship with Lake Wales by Oct. 31.
Elaine Thompson, CEO of the Lakeland-based YMCA of West Central Florida, announced the decision Wednesday in a news release. The organization forged an agreement to lease the Lake Wales buildings and operate a YMCA in 2020 upon the closing of the Lake Wales Family YMCA.
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“This was a difficult decision that came with YMCA Executive Board approval,” Thompson said. “We carefully evaluated operations at the Lake Wales Branch and there are several factors that brought us to this decision. Unfortunately, Lake Wales has a small population density that makes it extremely difficult to support a viable YMCA facility, particularly in the post-pandemic environment with rising costs and work force shortages.”
Thompson said the Lake Wales facility had been running at a deficit for years.
All services and programs at the Lake Wales location will continue through Oct. 31, except for the afterschool and VPK programs, the release said. Those two programs will not resume for the 2023-2024 school year.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Local YMCA affiliate to close Lake Wales facility in October
