YMCA in Louisiana Closes Second Branch

The YMCA of Central Louisiana has closed its second location in Alexandria, LA, in five months.

The Alexandria Family Y on Turner Street, which opened in 1967, is closed indefinitely, TheTownTalk.com reported. A message from a phone call to the Y confirmed the closing.

The reason for the closure is a lack of funding. The Y's downtown branch closed last November, resulting in a loss of 70 percent of the Y's members, according to the report. The following month, the United Way of Central Louisiana ceased its $4,000 per month funding to the Y. Soon after, the Y's CEO and several board members left, the website reported.

Alexandria's lone remaining branch—the City Park Y—will remain open for its after-school program.

In recent weeks, board members of the YMCA of Central Louisiana had hoped to secure $100,000 to $150,000 to keep open the Turner Street location, which includes two pools, a full-size gym and a workout room.

"We see this decision as the final call to action for the Alexandria community if it wants to save the YMCA's services at Turner Street,” Sid McDaniel, chair of the YMCA of Central Louisiana board, said in a statement. "As home to the only indoor public pool in the community, Turner Street has been a tremendous asset, especially for those who cannot exercise any other way."