The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh is shutting down three branches at the end of August as part of its efforts to get out of debt. The affected locations are in Penn Hills, Wilmerding and Coraopolis.
YMCA President and CEO Kevin Bolding says the closures will impact about 3,000 members and more than 200 full and part-time employees.
"This is admittedly a very difficult process," he said. "But as we start to look at our financial projections going forward, we become much healthier through this process."
Bolding said the Y will be in touch with affected members about how to switch to another branch. He added that many part-time employees already work at more than one branch, but the organization will offer some opportunities for full-time staff to stay on board.
The announcement comes two months after the YMCA revealed it was filing for bankruptcy and closing its branch in the Golden Triangle downtown. The organization has since asked a judge to dismiss the bankruptcy case.
Bolding said these changes are all for the greater good of the organization on its path to financial strength.
"We start to create an organization that becomes much more sustainable, an organization that allows us to invest in our facilities in a much greater way than we have been," he said.
In total, the organization expects to save about $1 million by closing the three branches. This is in addition to saving up to $1 million from closing the downtown location.
Aside from workout facilities, the YMCA provides programs such as before and after school activities and summer camps. Bolding said the programs will continue uninterupted at all branches, including the closing ones. Most programming takes place off-site, according to a Y spokesperson, but the organization will identify community partners to provide programming locations within the affected communities.
