The Y.M.C.A. of Long Island has announced that it will open the doors of the Y.M.C.A. East Hampton RECenter on Tuesday. As part of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's reopening plan, the Y facilities are mandated to remain at 33-percent capacity and will be subject to "rigorous health and safety standards," including masks at all times, the organization said.
Branches in Bay Shore, Glen Cove, Huntington, and Patchogue opened on Monday.
"East Hampton is opening a week later than the branches further west . . . due to the need to get the staff back, onboarded, rehired, and trained," East Hampton Town Councilwoman Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said in an email.
The Suffolk County Department of Health Services inspected the Y.M.C.A. RECenter on Aug. 26 to ensure the building was up to safety and health standards.
"For our full-facility opening on Sept. 8, we are presently hiring, training, and preparing to welcome our members back with newly implemented protocols in accordance with the N.Y.S. guidelines for opening fitness facilities, including limiting capacity, increased cleaning and sanitizing procedures, requiring face coverings at all times, and employing social distancing of at least six feet apart," Anne Brigis, president and C.E.O. of the Y.M.C.A. of Long Island, said in a statement Monday. "Our number-one priority is keeping members and staff safe."
As part of the roll-out of activities, the Y.M.C.A. of Long Island has been offering access to its fitness centers, outdoor group fitness classes, virtual fitness classes, and pool lap lanes as of Monday. Limited aquatic programs were already taking place.
Practices for East Hampton's youth swim team, the Hurricanes, will begin in the fall, according to a Y.M.C.A. spokesperson.
"The Y.M.C.A. East Hampton RECenter has been part of the fabric that makes East Hampton such a special place to live, work, and play, and we will continue to serve our community for generations to come, in partnership with the Town of East Hampton," Ms. Brigis said.
The RECenter facility will be open Monday to Thursday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Fridays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Saturdays from 7 a.m. until noon and then, after Sept. 12, until 2 p.m. The facility will be closed on Sundays.
The Y.M.C.A. said memberships will be automatically reinstated when the doors open. Members will be billed their current membership rate every month, as early as Sept. 15.