Fauntleroy YMCA drop-in child-care program closing TFN

| Fauntleroy | Health | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle parents contacted us to share this news: Parents who use the Kids Corner drop-in child-care program at the Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor), which is based at Fauntleroy Church, got word today that the program is closing after this Wednesday. A letter from West Seattle YMCA branch executive Josh Sutton explains, in part:

You may know the church will be going through a significant remodel beginning in December and lasting through May. During this time some YMCA program spaces and access will be limited, and we expect overall use of the facility will likely decrease.

To promote child and staff safety, the Seattle Y has a 2-staff requirement at all times for children’s programs. While our staff and volunteers have done much work to improve the draw of the Fauntleroy Y’s Kids Corner, it does not sustain the number of visits per day that would keep it viable through the remodel. … Programs will remain closed for the duration of the remodel, and we will assess long-term decisions in the spring.

The letter also notes that for the duration of this, the West Seattle Y location in The Triangle “will be open to all Fauntleroy Local members at no additional cost,” and that the Triangle location offers 50+ hours of drop-in family programs. Sutton was at the Fauntleroy location much of today and plans to be there again tomorrow morning to answer questions. He told us the Y “weighed a lot of options, and came to this.”

Cheryl November 24, 2009 (7:00 am)

Gee, I’m really glad they TOLD me about all this when I joined 2 months ago. Since I’ll likely NEVER go to the other W Seattle YMCA location. Fauntleroy is within 2 blocks from me, so I can walk. Driving to the gym is about the biggest deterrent there is. Not having the option of child care? Even worse.

:-(

My two cents ... November 24, 2009 (9:03 am)

Having or rather supporting two facilities so close to one another in this economic environment isn’t an effective use of the dollars that the YMCA collects from their members. The YMCA has a rather large range of programs – all members are having to modify their expectations (or leave for other options).

John November 24, 2009 (10:07 am)

The YMCA will still be open for use of its exercise equipment.

Josh Sutton November 24, 2009 (10:13 am)

FYI – parents are welcome to attend a meeting at 10am on Wednesday, 11/25 in the Fellowship Hall where I can answer more questions directly. If folks miss that meeting, my email is jsutton@seattleymca.org.

As to My Two Cents comment – we have done much work over the past few years to make having two YMCA facilities in West Seattle viable and vibrant. Each building has its own feel and community, and some folks like going back and forth between programs in each location. Many of our staff work at both locations.

Most importantly, the combination of these two facilities (and our program sites in 6 different local schools) allow us to reach and involve more than 12,000 different people in West Seattle every year.

We’ve been partners in the Fauntleroy Church building since the 1920’s. While things change, we look forward to continued work in this community.

toodles November 24, 2009 (11:32 am)

I feel so bad for those kids.

Jen November 24, 2009 (1:08 pm)

Speaking for myself and a handful of friends and peers, there are lots of families that actually go out of their way to use the Fauntleroy facility specifically for the childcare option there. I totally understand the need for most effectively using the resources the Y has and if the Fauntleroy Kids Corner is a casualty of these economic times, so be it. I hope the Y will take this opportunity to try and address some of the issues that make the Fauntleroy option so much more attractive for families with really small kids. Parking not being a problem and having only one large room so that siblings of different ages are not separated are two huge benefits of the smaller space. I realize that there are lots of childcare hours avaiable at the ‘Big Y’, but if the process of getting there, parked, situated, and dropping the kids off continues to be as big an ordeal as it has been in the past, I for one will have to look for other fitness facility options. I hate to do so because I love the Y, love that the dollars support other great programs, and love the sense of community there.

marco November 24, 2009 (1:14 pm)

I don’t understand, why there was only a two day notice and why Kid’s Corner has to close now, when the construction work will only start mid-December.

Couldn’t this have been addressed by reduced schedules, instead of closure?

Thanks,
Marco

mama o'four November 24, 2009 (1:54 pm)

My family loves the YMCA, their mission, programs and friendly staff(my husband and I actually met at The Y back in 96′). Josh Sutton is amazing and we trust whatever decisions are being made are fair and necessary. We will continue to support our YMCA all the way!

G November 24, 2009 (1:56 pm)

I agree with Jen. I have been a YMCA member for a couple years now, due in part to the childcare options. I have not yet tried the Fauntleroy YMCA but have heard from other moms that they like it much better for childcare. I have not actually used the Y facilities for some time as I have difficulty with the ordeal of parking, dropping them, ect. It just seems SO much work. Then, my 2 boys were finally able to be in the same family room which helped, but my younger one was not allowed on the slide as the older one was, so that was a problem. My kids just are not happy there in the childcare. The staff are great, but something’s not working. I was looking forward to trying Fauntleroy. :(

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