JER Chilton YMCA at Rockwall to open Monday, June 1

(ROCKWALL, TX – May 30, 2020) The JER Chilton YMCA at Rockwall, along with six other YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas branches, will welcome members back Monday, June 1 after closing their doors in March due to COVID-19.

With counsel of medical experts and best practices from other YMCA’s around the country, a phased opening is planned. Phase 1 (Monday, June 1) includes: JER Chilton YMCA, Frisco Family YMCA, Moody Family YMCA, Park South Family YMCA, Plano Family YMCA, Semones Family YMCA (Town North), and White Rock Family YMCA.

President and CEO Curt Hazelbaker explained in a statement: “We have decided to take a staggered approach to make sure we are appropriately ready to reopen. Our plan is to open seven branches in the first phase to see what works and what doesn’t.

We’ll open the remaining in phases to protect our YMCA staff and members. This approach allows us to prepare our facilities and train staff while helping members get comfortable with new routines. We will be communicating with members to know what to expect when they walk into their YMCA. We will follow the State’s orders, including capacity limits, keeping showers and locker rooms closed, and requiring everyone to maintain six feet of social distance.

Our staff and volunteers have been focused on helping our community through the pandemic and are looking forward to seeing our Y family again soon.”

Facilities will be limited to 25% capacity, following guidelines by the CDC and local health officials. Staff members will wear face masks and encourage members to do the same. Members will be asked to limit their time in the facility to 60 minutes. At JER Chilton YMCA at Rockwall, the pool will be open and accessible with limited activities. All Y members will have access to any of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas branches.

Operating hours for JER Chilton YMCA will be 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday.

“The safety of our members is our top priority. All open areas inside the Y have been evaluated and redesigned where necessary to help ensure social distancing between members,” said Crystal Chavarie, VP of Risk Management for the Dallas YMCA. “Signage will be placed prominently throughout the facility to drive awareness of this requirement. We are also spacing out equipment, alternating our treadmill and cardio usage to every other machine, limiting capacity in classes so everyone has the recommended six feet of space. We have dedicated staff to sanitize equipment after use as well as ample amounts of EPA-Registered disinfectant wipes and sanitizer available for wiping down equipment. We will also perform a deep clean of our branches each night.”

“We are looking forward to seeing our members but understand there are those that may not feel ready to come back yet. The Y is here for you, whether you can be in a Y on June 1st, or you will be continuing to stay safe at home,” said Rebecca Lee, VP of Membership & Wellness. “Our virtual classes will continue, as will our Y staff outreach to Seniors and other at-risk members, checking in, visiting with them and even helping run errands to the pharmacy or the grocery store so they can remain safe at home.”

Additional reopening plans for camps, youth sports, day camps, and more are also being developed. More information is available online at https://www.ymcadallas.org/reopening.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME:

Sign your waiver – all members will be asked to sign a waiver prior to scanning in and working out.
ENGLISH WAIVER SPANISH WAIVER

Reserve your spot in a group exercise class, Child Watch, or lap swim at www.ymcadallas.org/reservations – due to capacity limits, these will require reservation.