YMCA opens Sept. 8, and subsidized members get free access to Kivi Park

It was nothing but good news this week for the Sudbury branch of the YMCA of Northeastern Ontario.

First, the Durham location is set to reopen to the public on Sept. 8. Second, YMCA members with subsidized memberships can now access everything Kivi Park has to offer, at no cost. The free membership to Kivi Park is being made available through the park’s accessibility fund.

The two organizations announced the partnership on Thursday. They agree the ability to collaborate and partner for the well-being of the community helps everyone. The YMCA had 5,200 members pre-COVID-19, and 25 to 30 per cent are subsidized memberships.

Kerry Lamarche, executive director, Kivi Park, said during the course of the pandemic, the need for places like Kivi became far greater. That’s why the partnership with the YMCA is important; it gives people who might not be able to purchase a pass for the park the chance to get out and enjoy its numerous trails.

Kivi Park has more than 480 acres of land to explore and offers an extensive trail network for mountain biking, hiking, skating, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and skate skiing. Kivi Park has about 1,800 passholders and sells about 300 day passes a month.

Helen Francis, president and CEO of the YMCA of Northeastern Ontario, said part of the organization’s mandate is to remove financial barriers to its services, and what has become even more important as the pandemic continues is to ensure access to places like Kivi Park.

“I am keen for the opportunity to develop this partnership with Kivi Park,” said Francis.

The YMCA is planning a number of activities to take place at Kivi Park, starting with a learn to run program and a yoga retreat.

The YMCA’s reopening does come with new hours of operation. The facility will be open from 7 a.m.to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and closed on weekends. It will be closed every day from 1:30-3:00 p.m. in order to do a deep cleaning of the facilities. 

Unfortunately, the aquatics centre does not have the financial capacity to reopen at this time.

“We are taking a gradual approach to reopening, prioritizing health and safety and ensuring that we can open in a financially viable manner,” said Francis. “Our YMCA remains financially challenged as we come through a period of significant revenue loss and a time where we anticipate membership return will be slow initially.”

When the YMCA opens, members are asked to self-screen using the guidelines approved by the Ministry of Health before arrival. Upon arrival, members will scan their card. When the card is scanned, members agree that they have passed the self-screening questionnaire. 

There will be designated doors for entering and exiting the building.

Members will not have to book their visit ahead of time. Room capacity limits will be posted on signs throughout the facility.

Registration is required for all fitness classes in order to monitor class sizes. Registration can be done online and will open on Monday, Sept. 14 at 5 a.m.. More information will be shared with members next week. 

Members must arrive ready to workout with a water bottle, towel and gym appropriate clothing. Change rooms will be available with limited locker availability and no water fountains will be available for use. 

For more information on how to access the Kivi Park Accessibility Fund membership, email [email protected].

For more information on how to access financial assistance at the YMCA, email [email protected].