Gateway YWCA To Permanently Close Pool

The Gateway YWCA in Winston-Salem is permanently closing its aquatic center.

It hasn't been open since last August, when a storm brought heavy rain and flooded the pool area. A lot of the equipment was damaged. The cost to reopen it is more than half a million dollars.

The nonprofit has been trying to find a sponsor to help pay for the repairs.

But the cost to maintain the pool area was also factor in the decision. It's more than $360,000 a year to operate.

Local resident Barbara Leak has been going to the YWCA for years and says there aren't a lot of places like this in the city.

“I wish it wouldn't close because I was also bringing my grandchildren here and this is where they learned how to swim,” says Leak. “And even though I have a pool, I can't swim, so this was going to be my time to learn how to swim. So, it's sad.”

The Gateway YWCA says it will hold two town hall meetings in June to answer any questions from the community and discuss potential plans for the space. The first one is on June 5 and the second one is scheduled for June 11. Both meetings will take place at 11 a.m. at the facility located at 1300 S. Main Street.

*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news