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The YMCA of West Central Florida has decided to close the Lake Wales Branch and end the relationship with the City of Lake Wales. Notice was given to the City of Lake Wales on April 25th that provided an October 31, 2023, termination date.
“This was a difficult decision that came with YMCA Executive Board approval,” said West Central Florida YMCA CEO Elaine Thompson, PhD. “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.” She added, “Operationally, the facility has been running at a deficit for years and we have been diligently trying to make it work. However, when you take emotions out of the equation and look at facts, the decision to close the facility is evident.”
The YMCA of West Central Florida entered into an agreement to lease the City’s buildings and operate a YMCA in February of 2020 upon the closure of the previous Lake Wales Family YMCA. Thompson said, “We really appreciate the partnership with the City of Lake Wales, our members, and most of all our dedicated staff who will be impacted by this decision. We will do our very best to absorb personnel into other locations.
The City of Lakeland Wales was notified on April 25th of the decision to close the YMCA branch with a hand-delivered letter. The lease and operating agreements between the City of Lake Wales and the YMCA of West Central Florida are both terminated effective October 31, 2023. All services and programs at the Lake Wales location will continue to be operated until the October 31st effective date with the exception of the afterschool and VPK programs. These two programs will not be initiated for the 2023-2024 school year at the Lake Wales location.