Binghamton YMCA Closing Pool, Other Membership Activities

The YMCA swimming pool in downtown Binghamton will be shut down soon and other membership activities at the site will be dropped in coming months.

YMCA members have been advised that big changes are planned for the Binghamton facility due to "changing community dynamics."

According to a message to members, the YMCA board of directors has decided to expand housing capacity at the downtown site.

The swimming pool is scheduled to close on November 23. All "membership operations" are to be shifted to the YMCA facility on Main Street in Westover, near Johnson City.

The YMCA site on Susquehanna Street in Binghamton is to be renovated to "expand housing capacity." Specific details of the planned work were not revealed.

The message to members said most of the building will be transformed into additional emergency, transitional and permanent housing for homeless men.

The move is expected to double the capacity of the Binghamton facility and "address one of the most critical needs in our community."

The message indicates Binghamton wellness programs "are anticipated to continue for the next 18 months."

While the gymnasium may be included in the upcoming renovation work, the "pool is no longer operationally viable."

One member told WNBF News a petition signed by 40 swimmers expressing concerns about the move to close the pool was submitted to the YMCA. He said there's been no response to the petition.

A childcare center at the downtown facility was closed earlier this year.

YMCA CEO Gareth Sansom did not return calls seeking comment on the planned changes. He was said to be unavailable when a reporter visited the Binghamton site on Monday.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.