The YMCA of Greater Houston announced in late April fitness facility services would be discontinued in May at the Creekside Park YMCA, leaving residents with no neighborhood fitness facility. The location will close completely when day camp programs end this summer.

Residents Linda Drachenberg, Cindy Morrow and Nancy Becker, Creekside Park Village Association President, asked The Woodlands Township board of directors May 25 to consider allowing the parks and recreation department to take over the Creekside Park YMCA.

“Initially, our efforts were to try to convince the YMCA to keep this location open and to grow the facility,” Becker said. “However, we quickly learned that the decision to close was in the works for some time, and we were not going to get them to change their minds.”

Entities interested in purchasing the property could include the township’s parks and recreation department and Harris County Precinct 4, Becker said. However, concerns associated with Harris County purchasing the land include eventual ownership of the facility for use unrelated to family fitness, she said.

“A number of people would love to see the [YMCA] expanded into a full facility,” Morrow said. “I think the community has taken great ownership in that [YMCA], and they’ve made it their own. Some have used it [in the] decision-making process on moving to Creekside [Park].”

Morrow initiated a petition in favor of salvaging the facility that received 574 signatures from residents in The Woodlands, Spring and Tomball areas. She also received some comments with the petition from Creekside Park residents emphasizing the convenience of having a YMCA within walking or biking distance from their homes.

“It’s been such a nice and unique facility since it backs up right to the George Mitchell [Nature] Preserve,” Drachenberg said. “My family has used it. We’ve used it for parties. It has all kinds of unique features as far as the tree houses and the tepees and things that you don’t see at a lot of other facilities.”

Drachenberg said she hopes the township considers taking over the facility so that the YMCA can become a locally controlled family fitness center for residents of Creekside Park.

“For the future integrity of our village, we feel it’s important to retain control of this piece of property,” Becker said. “The Village Association feels it’s in the best interest of our residents. The only option is for the township to purchase this property to develop a parks and rec center south.”

Township Chairman Ed Robb said the board is aware of the concern surrounding the closure of the YMCA location and that they appreciate residents coming forward with comments on the matter. The next township meeting will be held at 9 a.m.  on June 16 at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd.