HOW WE ARE KEEPING OUR YMCA COMMUNITY SAFE
Tier 3 mitigation efforts aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 will go into effect statewide on Friday, November 20. These facility and program modifications will go into effect at the YMCA beginning November 20, 2020.
Because the safety of our members, staff, and our community remains our top priority, we have implemented heightened cleaning practices using EPA-approved disinfectants to ensure our facilities meet the highest standards for hygiene and safety. We have also made modifications to our policies and programs to facilitate new safety and social distancing guidelines.
To maintain a healthy environment, all members and staff will be required to adhere to the following health and safety guidelines when visiting our YMCA facility:
Required Health Screenings
Upon entering the YMCA, both members and staff will be required to answer 5 health screening questions:
1. Have you or anyone in your household traveled to another country in the last 14 days?
2. Have you been in contact with someone under investigation for, or with a confirmed case of, COVID-19 in the last 14 days?
3. Have you or a family member in your household been instructed to self-quarantine?
4. In the last 3 days, have you experienced a fever of 100.4 or higher?
5. Are you currently experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19?
For the safety and well-being of our YMCA community, anyone who answers YES to any of the above questions will not be permitted to visit the YMCA on that day.
Continuous Social Distancing
Both members and staff will be required to practice social distancing and wear a mask or face covering when visiting the Y.
Masks or face coverings WILL BE REQUIRED at ALL TIMES for members, EXCEPT when using the pool.
Frequent Handwashing and Sanitizing
Members and staff will be asked to help prevent the spread of germs by washing their hands upon entering any YMCA facility. For your convenience, we have installed additional hand sanitizers throughout our YMCA.
Required Equipment Wipedown
When using the wellness
center, please remember to
wipe down equipment
before and after use with
the EPA-approved disinfectant
we have provided.
Staggered
Equipment
To allow for social distancing,
some equipment in our
wellness center may be
temporarily closed
or relocated.
Limiting Class Sizes and Room Capacities
To ensure members can safely
practice social distancing while
visiting the YMCA, we will
temporarily be limiting the
number of people allowed in YMCA classes, programs, and spaces.
FACILITY HOURS, OPERATIONAL UPDATES AND ADDITIONAL AMENITY CLOSURES
Facility Hours
Monday-Friday:
5 a.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday:
7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sunday:
Closed
PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS
In accordance with guidance from local, state, and federal public health officials and to keep our YMCA community healthy and safe, we will be implementing additional temporary operational and program changes at the Y.
School-Based Programs
At this time, Kid Zone PLUS will run as-scheduled.
Fall 3 Programming Canceled
In accordance with Tier 3 mitigation efforts, the remaining weeks of the following Fall 3 session-based programs will be canceled:
- Group swim lessons
- Youth sports classes
- Specialty group fitness classes
- Water fitness classes
- Youth enrichment classes
Group Fitness Classes
At this time, all in-person group exercise classes will be paused. Our health and wellness teams will be offering a robust schedule of virtual classes in the coming weeks. This schedule will be posted on our website and in the On the Go App in the next few days. A catalog of more than 70 group exercise classes are also available on the Y’s website.
JETS Swim Team
Practices will be paused. Private coaching sessions will be available. Athletes can also reserve lap lanes to stay active. Coaches will be contacting all team members with additional information.
Thrive Dance Team
Practices will continue virtually. Instructors will be contacting all team members with additional information.
Program participants will be contacted in the coming days with information about alternative program opportunities. System credits and refunds for canceled programs will also be available.
Membership
-In accordance with Tier 3 mitigation efforts, members will be required to make reservations to use the wellness centers, pools, and gymnasiums. Reservations will be available through the YMCA On the Go App or by calling your local branch. Additional information about the reservation process will be shared with members in the coming days.
-Members will be encouraged to scan in using their key tag or cell phone at one of our self-check-in stations.
-We will limit use of our YMCA facility to members and program participants only until further notice. Guest passes and Daily Visits will not be honored during this time.
-A parent/guardian must be present when members, ages 12 and younger, are answering the required health screening questions when checking in to the YMCA.
-We will be processing digital and contactless payments. Only credit cards and EFT payments from checking accounts will be accepted; no cash.
-Coffee service will not be available.
-Members are encouraged to bring a water bottle from home, as water fountains will be closed. Bottle fill-up stations will remain open.
Kids Corner Supervised Playroom
-Kids Corner will remain closed until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Wellness Center
-Members will be required to make reservations to use strength and cardio equipment in the Wellness Center. Members can also reserve use of the aerobics studios and spin rooms. Reservations will begin on the hour and last for 50 minutes, and may be made up to 24 hours in advance.
-Members are asked to respect posted social distancing signs when using the wellness center.
- In the wellness center, members will notice that red boxes have been installed on the floor around certain pieces of equipment. To ensure social distancing, only one person is permitted in each red box at a time.
-To allow for social distancing, some equipment in our wellness center may be temporarily closed or relocated.
-When using the wellness center, members will be asked to wipe down equipment before and after use with provided EPA-approved disinfectant.
-Personal training sessions will continue. Members interested in learning more about these opportunities should speak to a member of our Wellness team or click here.
Gymnasium
-Use of the gym during open gym time will be by reservation only. Gym reservations will be limited to one household, with no more than 4 persons per hoop. Fifty-minute reservations will be available and may be made up to 24 hours in advance.
-In line with guidance from the state of Illinois, we will be limiting the number of people allowed in the gym.
-Per guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health, members will be required to wear a mask or face covering at all times while participating in indoor sports at the YMCA.
-To keep our YMCA community healthy, staff will be disinfecting equipment after use. Please look for posted signs, which will indicate where used equipment can be placed and disinfected equipment can be found in the gym.
Lap Pool and Water Fitness Classes
-Per guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health, members will be required to wear a mask or face covering on the pool deck when not engaged in swimming activities. Staff will be required to wear a mask or face covering on the pool deck when not engaged in swimming activities or guarding from an elevated post on deck.
-Use of the lap pool will be by reservation only. Members may reserve a lap lane for 55 minutes. Reservations will be limited to one household per lane. One household may consist of up to 6 swimmers from the same residence. Members are limited to one pool reservation per day.
-Social distancing markers have been added to benches in the pool areas. Benches and chairs will also be spaced 6 feet apart to accommodate social distancing guidelines.
-At this time, water fitness classes and masters swim team practices will be paused.
Saunas
-The saunas will be temporarily closed. We apologize for the inconvenience.
ADDITIONAL REMINDERS
To ensure the well-being of our YMCA community, we will also be implementing additional safety precautions within a number of our programs, including YMCA Kid Zone PLUS. Additional information will be shared with registered participants. To find a full list of YMCA Kid Zone PLUS Health and Safety Guidelines, click here.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER
As we prepare to reopen our facility, please be assured that the safety of our YMCA community is our number one priority. We will continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local, state and federal health officials, and communicate with our members if reopening plans for our facilities or programs will need to change due to state or federal guidelines.
We ask for your continued cooperation as we work together to keep our members and staff safe and healthy. We want to keep our doors open for as many members as possible. Doing so means taking safety seriously. If you have any concerns or questions at any time during your visit, please speak to a member of our staff team.
