HOW WE ARE KEEPING OUR YMCA COMMUNITY SAFE
POLICIES IN EFFECT AS OF MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
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 exercising in designated socially distanced spaces in the wellness center or in a group exercise class. Per state guidelines, members WILL STILL BE REQUIRED to wear masks when participating in sports, including basketball during open gym.
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
Membership
-In accordance with Phase 4 health and safety guidelines, members will be required to make reservations to use the wellness centers and gymnasium. 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 the Wellness Centers. Reservations will begin on the hour and last for 50 minutes, and may be made up to 24 hours in advance. Members may reserve back-to back time slots, but will need to exit the wellness center for cleaning at the end of their 50-minute reservation window. Members can also reserve use of the aerobics studios and spin rooms, when classes are not in session.
-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
-In line with guidance from the state of Illinois, we will be limiting the number of people allowed in the gym.
-Use of the gymnasium during open gym time will be by reservation only. Groups are limited to 6 people or less per hoop. Fifty-minute reservations will be available and can may be made up to 24 hours in advance. Members will be required to wear masks at all times.
-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 Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s three lap pools will be available on a first-come, first-served basis during open swim times. No more than 6 swimmers per lane will be allowed in the lap pool. To encourage social distancing, lap swimmers sharing a lane will be encouraged to start and stop on opposite ends of the pool. Lane lines will have markers every six feet to assist swimmers with spacing in the lanes.
-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.
Restrooms and Locker Rooms
-Restrooms and locker rooms will be open for member use. Members are asked to respect posted social distancing signs when using restrooms and locker rooms at the YMCA.
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.
