Plattsburgh YMCA likely to expand with second location

PLATTSBURGH | Like the Crete Memorial Civic Center, the Plattsburgh City Recreation Center will likely also see external leadership through a shared service agreement. The rec center will remain owned by the city, but opening and operating responsibilities could soon be taken on by the YMCA, which put a bid in for the city's RFP. "It's not a done deal yet, but we're in negotiations right now with the city and Community Development Office and we're certainly getting closer, but it still has to go through the City Council before anything can be official," Plattsburgh and Malone YMCA CEO Justin Ihne recently told Sun Community News. The Y has also been in talks with Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, which announced the closure of its Wellness and Fitness Center, to see what opportunities might exist for collaboration, Ihne has said. The collaboration between the city and the Y would see the return of pickleball and indoor track usage. "Our goal is to create a membership that would be an extension of our current YMCA on Oak Street," Ihne previously told local media during early talks of the merger. If City Council approves the collaboration, possibly by months end, officials would need at least 30 days to finalize the plans. Staffing would need to be in place, as well as time to order supplies and firm up new safety and health guidelines, Ihne said. Representatives from both the city and the county health department have visited the gym facilities at the U.S. Oval to determine covid-safeness. The non-profit is currently open on Oak Street, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Saturdays, the Y is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. The evolving tentative agreement between the Y and the city began negotiations in October and needs final approval by the common council. But, Ihne said, if that happens, the City Rec center could be reopened by Jan. 1 the earliest. "Our plan is to open up the main gym and track for pickleball and walking and running, as well as the group fitness class rooms," Ihne said. "We want to open safely and be conservative with our opening so we can control the flow of members and make sure we have all of our procedures in place." City Council is expected to weigh in on the proposal in the coming weeks. -Staff Writer Andrea VanValkenburg contributed to this report

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Plattsburgh YMCA likely to expand with second location

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