The Y in Central Maryland is getting ready to drain two of Baltimore County’s most affordable pools, and it is not a short-term shutdown. The nonprofit says it will close its Dundalk and Randallstown swim centers on Aug. 31, 2026, wiping out two of the area’s few low-cost places to swim and leaving families and seniors who count on lessons, lap lanes, and water exercise scrambling for backups.
Y says it cannot provide full membership experience
In an email to The Baltimore Banner, Dana Ashley, senior vice president of operations for the Y in Central Maryland, said the organization decided it could not offer the “full Y membership experience” at either Baltimore County site. The Y has told members it will let those affected use other Y centers at their current rates for one year, and it says it will try to place staff members at other locations.
Programs, fees and who is helped
Both swim centers have hosted community swim hours, children’s lessons and water-fitness classes that neighborhood residents rely on. According to Y in Central Maryland, drop-in community swim fees typically run about 5 to 7 dollars per person. The association’s Open Doors financial-assistance program, described by the Y in Central Maryland, can substantially lower membership and program costs for households that qualify. Those reduced-rate offerings are among the few nearby, more affordable options for swim lessons and supervised water access.
Equity concerns and drowning risk
The impact of the closures is not evenly spread. Data from U.S. Census QuickFacts show Randallstown is roughly 79 percent Black, while U.S. Census QuickFacts lists Dundalk’s median household income at about 64,520 dollars, underscoring pockets of lower-income need in the county. Public health officials have long warned about racial disparities in drowning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported persistently higher drowning death rates among Black children in its 2024 Vital Signs report, and advocates say losing affordable pools narrows an already small pathway for kids to learn how to swim. With these facilities on the chopping block, residents and safety advocates worry about widening gaps in access to lessons that can prevent tragedies.
County investments and local reaction
Baltimore County has already poured public money into both sites, roughly 10 million dollars at Randallstown and about 3.26 million dollars at Dundalk, yet officials say they are still weighing what to do next. County spokesperson Dakarai Turner told The Baltimore Banner the county is “actively reviewing options” and hopes another operator will eventually take over the facilities. County and state officials, including Councilman Julian Jones and state Sen. Carl Jackson, told the Banner they were frustrated that the closures were announced without a clear plan to preserve low-cost swimming. The Banner’s reporting also notes that the Dundalk pool had been closed for five years for repairs and only reopened last summer, which has added to local anger over the timing of the decision.
What is next for swimmers
For now, the Y says members can shift to other centers, and Open Doors funds remain available to households that qualify, as long as those facilities can absorb them. County leaders say they are exploring several ideas, from finding new operators to expanding public access through local colleges or school pools, but advocates and elected officials warn there is not much time to lock in a workable alternative before upcoming school and summer swim seasons.
The Aug. 31, 2026, closure date sets a firm deadline for whatever comes next, and residents who depend on the Dundalk and Randallstown swim centers are waiting to see concrete plans from both the county and the Y.
