May 28, 2020

YMCA working in anticipation of loosening of restrictions

Posted May 28, 2020 3:15 PM

By NICK GOSNELL

Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson YMCA never closed throughout the pandemic, though its functions have been limited at times and the hope is even more activities can happen soon.

"We're waiting with great anticipation, to hear what Mr. Baldetti says," said Kirby List with the YMCA. "He's coming out with something later this week. We're hoping that we can have our pools open and our locker rooms open come Monday. We're kind of planning for that. We need to have action steps in place so if, in fact, that does happen, we've got staff to guard it and staff to lead classes and things like that."

Indoor classes at the Y started Monday.

"We're limited right now by size," List said. "We can have 15 folks in the room. We're going one instructor and up to 14 people. That number is going to change. I don't know what that number is going to be."

The intent is to be both as open and as safe as possible at the same time, but that will be different here than elsewhere.

"I'm glad its back in the hands of the local folks," List said. "Reno County is so different than Shawnee County or Johnson or Sedgwick or Ford or Finney. It's nice that it kind of has a little local flavor, what's reality in Reno County as opposed to what's happening in other parts of the state."

As an example, all interior doors in the Y are propped open where privacy is not an issue in an effort to limit the need for people to touch those surfaces.