Oswego YMCA closure will impact an estimated 3,000 local members

In an email sent to members Wednesday, June 27, officials with the Oswego Family YMCA announced the facility will shut down on Aug. 15.

The pending closure will affect approximately 3,000 local members, according to information provided by the YMCA.

In the wake of that move, members have been left with a few options if they would like to continue on with the YMCA. According to the email, sent to members on June 27, obtained by the Ledger and confirmed by YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago Communications Director Aileen Tormon, the options made available to the members affected by the closure of the Oswego YMCA are: To have their membership automatically transferred to the Fry Family YMCA on 95th Street in Naperville, to transfer their membership to any location in the YMCA of Metro Chicago family, or to cancel their membership.

The Fry Family YMCA in Naperville is the closest location in the Metro Chicago family, about 10 miles away from the Oswego location. The only other location in the area is the Kroehler Family YMCA on Washington Street in Naperville, about 13.5 miles from the Oswego location.

However, there are two YMCA locations outside of the Metro Chicago division that are closer to Oswego. Those facilities are the Fox Valley Family YMCA in Plano, and the C.W. Avery Family YMCA in Plainfield.

According to Fox Valley Membership Director Angie Heyl-Sanders, the Fox Valley YMCA will “always honor” waiving a joining fee for members transferring to their location within two months. The Fox Valley location, which also has a West Branch in Sandwich, has four different joining fees: $35 for youths, high school and young adults; $50 for adults; $65 for seniors; and $80 for families or households.

Lisa Behounek, executive director of the C.W. Avery Family YMCA in Plainfield, said that while discussions have not been held on what to do for all levels of membership, those who pay on a month-to-month basis would be able to transfer their membership and resume paying on a month-by-month basis. Behounek said that the C.W. Avery location would also waive its joining fee: $120 for families, $80 for adults and $40 for young adults and youths.

Tormon said that because each YMCA association is independently operated, they are unable to transfer memberships to another center outside of the Metro Chicago association.

In a statement issued June 27, Associate Executive Director Heather Appling said, “It has been an honor to provide a supportive environment where Oswego community members can learn, grow, and thrive together. ... We’re truly disappointed to be making this change.”

Tormon confirmed that the YMCA is “exploring potential partnerships” that would allow it to continue on in Oswego.

The decision to close came after the owners of the Oswego YMCA building, School District 308, made the decision to sell the building, which served as Traughber Junior High School until 2008. At its June 11 meeting, the SD308 Board of Education heard a proposal from 3 Diamond Development of Lincolnwood to turn the location into active senior apartments that would incorporate the Oswego Senior Center, which is also located on the property. 3 Diamond’s proposal would eliminate the YMCA from the building.

Doors will close at the YMCA on Aug. 15, with its lease on the property with the school district ending Aug. 31.​