Grayslake YMCA Closed After Today

After serving Grayslake residents for 13 years, the YMCA at 1850 E. Belvidere Road will close for good after today.

Members received notice in early July that the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago had decided to close the facility, located in a rented storefront, because it didn't have the capability to expand and offer more programming.

"This is not the experience we wish to provide for our members," stated a letter to members.

YMCA officials also stated they were not exploring options to build a new facility in the community.

Resident Wendy Rosen commented on a previous Patch story that she and her husband had been Grayslake Y members from the beginning and felt their decision to close the facility was short-sighted or that they were not being fully honest about why.

"This Y fills gaps in the community, and has many programs to build healthy mind, spirit and body--which fulfills the YMCA mission," she wrote. "The YMCA's decision to close this facility leaves our neighborhood with a large void, and breaks up a close knit group of people."

Members can find other gyms, wrote Rosen, but not one with such a strong mission and core values.

Members of the Grayslake YMCA will be able to use the facility through August 31. Those who wish to transfer their membership to another YMCA location will receive two months of their membership free.