Christie Anbar

I am writing as a longtime member of the New Canaan YMCA, a parent of former Caimans swimmers, a Masters swimmer, and a past donor who contributed meaningfully to the last major renovation in large part because of the Y's stated commitment to improving and expanding its aquatics facilities.

I was deeply alarmed to learn that the Board may be considering demolishing the Valles Pool, reportedly due to a perceived lack of use. I hope that information is incomplete or incorrect. But if it is true, then I must be direct: such a decision would be profoundly misguided, deeply damaging to the Y community, and entirely inconsistent with the transparency and community stewardship members should expect from this institution.

The Valles Pool is not an underused facility. It is essential. It serves the Caimans, high school swim teams, the dive team, Masters swimmers, lap swimmers, recreational swimmers, families, and countless members whose connection to the Y is built around aquatics. To suggest that it lacks meaningful use is to overlook the daily reality of the people who depend on it.

Equally troubling is the apparent lack of communication with members about a decision of this magnitude. The YMCA is not simply a building or a balance sheet. It is a community institution. Its members, donors, athletes, families, and neighbors deserve transparency before any irreversible decision is made about a core facility. Deliberating behind closed doors, while rumors leak out and members are left to piece together what may be happening, is not acceptable.

I also understand that the Valles roof may require repair, and that this may be part of what is driving the discussion. If that is the case, then members deserve clear information: What is the issue? What are the options? What is the cost? What is the timeline? Why is demolition even being considered? And why has there not been a broader, more open conversation with the community before this reached a critical point?

The timing of communication is also concerning. Holding a meeting at 11:30 a.m. on a weekday, when many working members and parents cannot attend, does not reflect a genuine effort to hear from the full community. A decision with this kind of lasting impact requires open forums, accessible meeting times, and a willingness to listen before conclusions are reached.

Let me be clear: permanently closing or demolishing the Valles Pool would not simply inconvenience members. It would harm the very community the YMCA exists to serve. It would diminish aquatics programming, weaken the Y's identity, and send a troubling message to families and donors who believed in the Y's long-term commitment to swimming.

I know I am not alone in saying that if the Valles Pool is permanently closed, my family will cancel our membership. But this is about much more than one family's membership. It is about trust. It is about whether the Board is listening. It is about whether the YMCA will honor its mission and its obligations to the community that has supported it for generations.

I urge the Board to pause any consideration of demolition, communicate openly with members, share the facts, and create a transparent process for community input before any decision is made. The Valles Pool matters. The aquatics community matters. And the members who have supported this YMCA deserve to be heard.