Gloria Ferris

I wanted to make sure that we all knew about the impending closing of the Brooklyn Y by the end of the year.  Please read this article in the Plain Dealer to get the details.  Chances are no matter what we do as a neighborhood; the YMCA will close at the corner of the Brooklyn Brighton bridge. After all, the board of directors of the YMCA have said that they must close facilities to be able to continue to offer the programs of the YMCA’s mission.  Residential facilities are probably more of a problem than they are worth and it stands to reason that these facilities would be the ones put up for sale. 

We in this community are at another crossroads.  We need to see this as an opportunity for a new venture in our neighborhood.  One that can define how we are preceived by those who pass through our community each day.  Years ago when the rumors that the Y would be closing soon, Gloria Janos suggested looking into having a youth hostel such as they have in Europe at that location.

With the completion of the Towpath trail on the horizon and the plans that the Friends of Big Creek have for that waterway and watershed in our community, maybe this is an idea that we should explore.   We should dream big on this one, folks.  We should not allow others to talk us into settling for less.  This is our community and we should be at the table when the decisions are made concerning this crucial piece of property in our midst. Remember, those of us who live and work in this community are the stakeholders.

Point of Information:  The Brooklyn YMCA is located in the Brooklyn Centre neighborhood.