The YMCA of the Northwoods is stepping away from its facility in Eagle River. As of March 1st the Northland Pines School District will run the fitness center that’s housed at Northland Pines High School.
YMCA Interim CEO Laurie Schlitt says the Eagle River facility has been operating at an average loss of $15,000 a year, subsidized by fundraising and the Rhinelander location.
“It just doesn’t have the membership base in order to support it financially to bring it to a break even. We have done fundraisers, and we’ve had wonderful community support keeping it going thus far. But we need to look at five years, ten years down the road to what would be the most viable.”
Schlitt says the number of paying memberships have never reached the level that would make it financially sustainable.
She says the Y is working closely with Northland Pines to make the transition as seamless as possible and maintain services to the community. The fitness center will still be used by the public as well as students.
“We have a very active older adult group. We have great programs between spinning, Zumba, total body for seniors. It’s wonderful to see the collaboration between the community and the students – to have that in a small community is very important.”
The YMCA will relinquish control on February 28th. The following day it will reopen under its new management.
