Letters: Downtown Columbia Y abandoning principles

On May 23, I resigned my Columbia Downtown YMCA board seat, and on May 24, I resigned from the YMCA altogether.

I’ve never imagined myself without the Y as a central part of my life. Since moving to Columbia in 2003, I have loved being with my fellow swimmers and spinners and the committed staff at the Downtown Y.

However, since the YMCA management team decided to sell the Sumter Street building to the First Baptist Church and build another Y, there has been a constant and consistent lack of both communication with and consideration of Downtown Y members.

As someone who swims every day, of course I am bothered by the lack of a pool in the new facility. However, I am an able-bodied person who can find another gym with a pool. What about the kids who will never learn to swim or the older or infirm people whose only option for exercise is water aerobics or swimming?

The Downtown Y leadership has completely gotten away from the national mission of the Y: youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

I feel pretty strongly that a YMCA without a pool, basketball court, track, spin room or racquetball court doesn’t adequately address the Y mission. As a friend says, pretty soon exercise won’t be allowed in the new Downtown Y.

This story was originally published June 5, 2016 at 6:11 PM with the headline "Letters: Downtown Columbia Y abandoning principles."