CLARION, Pa. – The Clarion County YMCA reopened Monday morning at 5:00 a.m. after a week-long closure for cleaning, maintenance, and pool draining.The scheduled closure occurs every year, normally the third week of August. YMCA staff and volunteers work the entire week to deep clean the building in ways that cannot be accomplished while the building is open.
Although the YMCA is fairly new, the cleaning week was necessary for a few reasons.
“We’ve had abnormally high traffic since January 31,” said Jesse Kelley, Clarion County YMCA Branch Manager.
“The pool needed drained and cleaned due to such a high bather load. Carpets needed cleaned in the locker rooms, and we had some grouting that needed replaced. Windows were washed and some maintenance was done on the roof. Machines were cleaned and sanitized.
“It took a team of around 15 people daily to get the Y clean and ready to re-open on Monday.”
After prolonged use, pools need to be drained to eliminate what pool operators call TDS or total dissolved solids, that don’t get removed through regular filtration. These particles, comprised of skin cells and dirt, must be removed through emptying pool water frequently to avoid cloudy water, algae growth, corrosion of metal gutters, ladders, and pipes, and smelly water. After draining, Y staff clean the pool through a process that eliminates stains and build-up on surfaces. Then, the pool is refilled and water chemistry is adjusted.
As the Y ages, additional projects will be necessary during the “shut-down week” in August.
The Oil City YMCA had a number of major projects to complete including the re-surfacing of the gym floor and painting during the cleaning week.
Since the YMCA is a non-profit organization that depends on donations and the support of the community, sending a company in to clean the Y outside of hours is not an option. It would cost an estimated $17,000.00 to $20,000.00 to have the YMCA professionally deep cleaned. Instead, staff work their normal hours as a cleaning crew.
Sunday hours will resume on September 8. The Y will be open each Sunday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
About the YMCA
For more information about the Clarion County YMCA and Y programs, please visit the YMCA website at www.clarioncountyymca.org, call 814-764-3400 and follow the Y on Facebook.
The Clarion County YMCA is a branch of the Scenic Rivers Association, which includes the Oil City YMCA, Clarion County YMCA, Younger Days Child Care, and Camp Coffman.
Hours
The Clarion County YMCA hours are Weekdays 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and closed Sundays until after Labor Day. Sunday hours will resume on September 8. The Y will be open each Sunday from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm.
(Article submitted by Michelle Murray, Marketing & Membership Director, Clarion County YMCA, Oil City YMCA, and YMCA Camp Coffman)
Clarion County YMCA and exploreClarion.com have partnered to provide the community with YMCA News. This is an exclusive article only found on exploreClarion.com.
