The Longmont YMCA closed at noon on Friday, ending fitness services for about 3,000 members.

LONGMONT, Colo. — The YMCA of Northern Colorado closed its Longmont fitness facility at noon on Friday, ending decades of service to roughly 3,000 members after years of financial challenges and a significant loss of federal funding, organization leaders said.

The Longmont location ceased fitness operations, though childcare programs will continue, according to YMCA officials. Memberships will end at that time.

Chief Financial Officer Marc Levinson said the organization faced a substantial budget shortfall this year.

“In 2025, we were short about just under $5 million dollars of funding,” Levinson said. "It really started several years ago with the prior administration. That really carried over to a greater extent a year ago with the current administration."

Levinson and Chief Operating Officer Jamie Holstein said ongoing financial struggles, compounded by the loss of federal funding, led to the decision to close the facility.

The Longmont YMCA serves about 3,000 members.

“About 90% of those are supported through insurance and third-party pay,” Levinson said. “There just aren't enough full-paying members to generate enough revenue.”

For many members, the closure marks the end of more than just a gym.

Mike Bloise, who has been a member since 1989, said the facility has been central to his daily life.

“I come here 7 days a week,” Bloise said.

“My wife Catherine and I met in this pool right here 30 years ago, so we have a lot of history here at the Y,” Brad said.

On Tuesday, Bloise and friends including Catherine and Brad finished what may have been their final workout at the facility.

During a Longmont City Council meeting, the city manager said the YMCA approached the city about a potential partnership that could involve the city acquiring the facility and keeping it open.

The city manager said Longmont is reviewing the potential costs and community impact of such a move. Officials have also identified issues with the property, including safety concerns about the roof over the pool and its ability to handle wind or snow loads.

No agreement has been reached, and discussions are ongoing, the city manager said.

Despite the end of fitness operations, YMCA officials confirmed that childcare programs at the Longmont location will continue.

Here is the full statement from Longmont regarding the YMCA:

"Many of you have reached out to share how much the Longmont YMCA means to you and your families. We appreciate every message, and we want you to know that your voices matter in this conversation.

We also want to make sure our community has accurate information. The City of Longmont is aware of the recent communication from the YMCA of Northern Colorado regarding its Longmont facility. In 2025, the YMCA approached the City about a potential partnership involving the future of the facility. While those preliminary discussions are ongoing, no agreement has been reached, and the City has made no commitments.

Any arrangement of this nature would require careful evaluation of costs, operations and community needs, as well as thorough public input and approval by the Longmont City Council.

We understand the YMCA's announcement may have created the impression that a transition is imminent. We want to be transparent with our residents; there is no timeline for such a decision.

Recreation and wellness are important to our community, and the City of Longmont will continue to evaluate options that serve residents' best interests. We are committed to keeping you informed as discussions develop.

For questions about current YMCA memberships or programs, please contact the YMCA of Northern Colorado directly."

The Colorado State Patrol is investigating a crash south of Longmont that claimed the life of a cyclist late Friday morning.

The CSP said the crash took place around 11:02 a.m. on Highway 119 and Niwot Road. The agency reported that the crash involved a dump truck and a bicycle.

The cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. He was a 75-year-old man from Lafayette and his name has not been released.

Authorities closed Highway 119 southbound at Airport Road while they investigated the scene. The preliminary results from CSP's investigation state that the dump truck was stopped on Niwot Road at a traffic light and turned right onto Highway 119 once the light changed. The cyclist was headed down Niwot Road at the same time and was hit by the truck when it turned.

The truck then stopped on the shoulder of Highway 119.

During the final days of the Longmont YMCA, more than 100 residents have spoken to the city council and packed meetings to try and keep it open. As CBS Colorado first reported, the Northern Colorado YMCA decided to close the branch earlier this month.

Northern Colorado YMCA says 75 other YMCA associations are considering closures across the country right now, citing concerns around federal funding.

Northern Colorado CEO Chris Coker says about 3,000 members visit the Longmont YMCA, with a large majority of the population being older adults. The closure of this YMCA means members may have to drive further or lose their classes altogether.

Longmont YMCA staff member Danae Higdon found out about the closure two weeks ago, when this was her only source of income.

"We all have come together and put the best of ourselves into helping each other," Higdon said, "Not being here in the near future is going to be very hard."

After decades in the community, the branch will close on Saturday, Feb. 28, coming as a surprise to staff like Higdon.

"None of us knew how bad the situation was, and we've been operating in the building without even noticing all these problems," Higdon said.

According to CEO Chris Coker and CFO Marc Levinson of Northern Colorado YMCA, those problems include Longmont losing $3.2 million over the last four years.

Coker explained, "For 12 years, we've kept that Y afloat and open. And some years it's gotten closer to sustainability, and other years it's gotten further away."

"It's a horrible decision to have to make," said Coker.

Part of the problem, leaders say, comes from so many members being older adults on a discounted Silver Sneakers insurance program.

However, the Northern Colorado YMCA group has had another branch audited previously. The group is also currently being sued for alleged mismanagement around a summer camp.

Higdon says these actions have prompted questions and mistrust from the public about the reasons behind the decision to close the branch.

Northern Colorado YMCA shared a document, in part, with CBS Colorado regarding an assembly of the Longmont facility by a national representative of the YMCA of the USA. Part of the assessment done in November 2025 claims, "The YMCA of Northern Colorado has quality assets and strong community presence but requires decisive action to stabilize finances, grow membership, and ensure long-term sustainability."

One of the recommended actions in this assessment appears to include the sale of Longmont and Cheyenne, Wyoming, facilities.

Northern Colorado YMCA did not wish to share its detailed financial records but explained its situation to CBS Colorado.

"Sharing [financial records], you know, handing you a piece of paper. No, that's not appropriate for us. But like, what I said is that looking at those numbers," he went on to explain, "The average is $800,000 a year lost just in Longmont."

To save the Y, leaders say they have been working for months to sell it to the City of Longmont. More than 100 people came to talk to the city council about it this month at coffee chats and in council meetings.

At Tuesday's council meeting, after about an hour of public comment, city manager Harold Dominguez said the city still has questions before any sale can go through. Dominguez also noted repairs to the facility, including for the roof, could take up to two years if the purchase went through.

"My responsibility is to tell council what you need to hear, not necessarily what you want to hear," Dominguez said, "I have to ensure that we're not taking on someone else's problem that we're putting on the back of the entire community."

For now, this leaves the Longmont YMCA community searching for a new home.

"It's very hard. It's very hard," Higdon said, "I'm trying to keep it together so that on Saturday... we enjoy, for the last time, being together in our classroom like we've been doing all these years."

Because the population at the Longmont branch is mostly seniors, Coker said he would consider A shuttle option to other Northern Colorado branches if enough people ask for it.