An Update on the Future of the Morrison YMCA

On June 17, 2026, the YMCA of Greater Charlotte announced that its Board of Directors had approved the sale of the Morrison YMCA property. The agreement has since been executed, and the transaction is anticipated to close in summer 2027. Until that time, Morrison YMCA will remain open and continue serving members, families and the Ballantyne community.

For more than two decades, the Morrison YMCA has been a cornerstone of the Ballantyne community. It has been a place where children learned to swim, families built traditions, neighbors found connection and lifelong friendships were formed. We understand why this decision has prompted strong emotions and important questions, and we recognize the deep connection so many members, volunteers, staff and community partners have built here.

As this transition moves forward, we are committed to communicating openly and providing timely updates along the way. This page will serve as your central source for the latest information, answers to frequently asked questions and updates about how the YMCA will continue serving Ballantyne, South Charlotte and the broader Charlotte region in the years ahead.

Why This Decision Was Made

The YMCA of Greater Charlotte was presented with a unique, unsolicited opportunity involving the Morrison YMCA property. As the governing body of the organization, the YMCA's volunteer Board of Directors had a responsibility to carefully evaluate whether that opportunity aligned with the YMCA's mission, long-term priorities and fiduciary responsibility to the communities it serves.

The Board's responsibility was to determine whether this unsolicited opportunity would better position the YMCA to fulfill its mission and serve communities across the Charlotte region for generations to come.

Central to that evaluation was stewardship, looking beyond today's opportunities and challenges to ensure the YMCA remains strong enough to serve future generations. Stewardship requires balancing the deep connections people have to individual YMCA centers with the responsibility to strengthen the organization as a whole.

The YMCA's 2025–2028 Strategic Plan established a long-term vision for strengthening the organization through investments in facilities, programs, people and community spaces. Among its priorities are modernizing YMCA centers, optimizing real estate assets, expanding program capacity and ensuring the YMCA remains strong and sustainable for the future. While the Morrison YMCA sale was not identified as part of the strategic plan, the plan provided an important framework for evaluating whether the opportunity aligned with the YMCA's long-term vision and priorities.

The opportunity represented more than a single real estate transaction. It created the ability to advance a broader reinvestment strategy that includes facility modernization, expanded program capacity and long-term investments in staff, resources and community spaces designed to better serve the evolving needs of members and the Charlotte region.

After careful evaluation, the Board approved the sale of the Morrison YMCA property. The agreement has since been executed, and the transaction is anticipated to close in summer 2027. In doing so, the Board concluded the opportunity would strengthen the YMCA's ability to fulfill its mission over the long term while supporting continued investment in its people, programs, facilities and communities. We recognize that not everyone will agree with the Board's decision. We do hope, however, that members understand the care, thoughtfulness and stewardship with which it was made, as well as the Board's commitment to ensuring the YMCA remains strong and positioned to serve communities across our region for generations to come.

What This Means For You

Members

Morrison YMCA will remain open and fully operational through the anticipated summer 2027 closing.

  • Your membership remains active, and you may continue using Morrison YMCA and all YMCA of Greater Charlotte locations.
  • Group exercise classes, wellness programs, aquatics, camps and other member offerings will continue as scheduled throughout the transition.
  • We'll continue communicating with members as planning progresses so you understand what to expect and when.
  • Our goal is to provide clear information and support well in advance of any future changes. 

Families

Youth programs and family services will continue throughout the transition as Morrison YMCA remains open and fully operational through the anticipated summer 2027 closing.

  • Summer camps, after-school programs, youth sports, swim lessons and other youth development programs will continue as scheduled.
  • The YMCA is committed to ensuring families continue to have access to the programs, services and community connections they value.
  • As planning continues, we'll share how programs and services will continue through nearby YMCA locations, expanded programming and future community partnerships throughout Ballantyne and South Charlotte.
  • Families will continue receiving updates as additional information becomes available. 

Staff

Supporting Morrison YMCA employees remains a top priority throughout the transition.

  • Morrison YMCA employees will continue serving members through the anticipated summer 2027 closing.
  • Association leadership will continue working closely with employees throughout the transition and identify opportunities across the YMCA of Greater Charlotte whenever possible.
  • Morrison YMCA leadership, the Morrison Advisory Board and Association leadership will continue working together to help shape how the YMCA serves Ballantyne and South Charlotte in the future.
  • The YMCA remains committed to communicating openly with employees and providing support as planning continues.
Youth playing indoor basketball at the Morrison YMCA

Looking Ahead

While the agreement now executed, our focus is on honoring the commitments we've made to our members, staff and community.

That means continuing to operate Morrison YMCA through the anticipated summer 2027 closing, supporting employees throughout the transition, maintaining the high-quality programs and services members expect, and providing regular updates as planning continues.

A significant portion of the proceeds from the Morrison YMCA sale will be reinvested in South Charlotte, including enhancements to nearby YMCA facilities, expanded programming at Hemby Program Center, continued investment in Sara's YMCA and additional community-based opportunities that help ensure families continue to have access to the programs, services and connections they value. Morrison YMCA leadership, the Morrison Advisory Board and Association leadership will continue working together to help shape those investments and identify future opportunities to serve Ballantyne and South Charlotte.

The Morrison opportunity is also helping advance investments across the YMCA's network of centers, including modernization projects and improvements designed to strengthen the member experience and expand the YMCA's impact throughout the Charlotte region.

As plans continue to develop, we'll share updates here as new information becomes available. We remain committed to communicating openly throughout the transition and keeping members, staff and the community informed every step of the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The YMCA of Greater Charlotte was presented with a unique, unsolicited opportunity involving the Morrison YMCA property. The Board of Directors carefully evaluated whether the opportunity aligned with the YMCA's mission, long-term priorities and fiduciary responsibility to the communities it serves.

After more than a year of thoughtful evaluation, the Board approved the Purchase and Sale Agreement because it concluded the opportunity would strengthen the YMCA's ability to fulfill its mission over the long term while advancing investments in facilities, programs, people and community spaces that support communities across the Charlotte region. While we recognize that not everyone will agree with the outcome, we are confident the decision reflects thoughtful stewardship and the Board's commitment to serving both current and future generations.

For more than two decades, Morrison YMCA has been a cornerstone of the Ballantyne community. Its importance to members, families and the broader community is exactly what made this such a significant and difficult decision.

The Board's responsibility was to evaluate whether this unique opportunity would better position the YMCA to fulfill its mission over the long term and strengthen its ability to serve communities across the Charlotte region. After careful evaluation, the Board concluded that approving the Purchase and Sale Agreement would best support those long-term goals while maintaining the YMCA's commitment to Ballantyne and South Charlotte.

Like many nonprofit organizations, the YMCA continually evaluates how to best meet changing community needs while maintaining long-term financial sustainability. The Morrison YMCA decision was not driven by an immediate financial challenge. Rather, it represented a unique opportunity that the Board determined would strengthen the YMCA's ability to fulfill its mission and invest in the future of the organization and the communities it serves.

The decision was made by the YMCA of Greater Charlotte's volunteer Board of Directors.

The Board is responsible for the governance of the organization and has a fiduciary responsibility to oversee the YMCA's assets and make decisions that support its mission, long-term sustainability and community impact.

The YMCA of Greater Charlotte is governed by an independent volunteer Board of Directors, which is responsible for overseeing the organization's operations, assets and long-term stewardship.

While member feedback is important and continues to help shape the YMCA's programs and community impact, governance decisions of this nature are the responsibility of the Board.

Stewardship guided every stage of the Board's evaluation.

The Board has a fiduciary responsibility to make decisions that position the YMCA to fulfill its mission not only today, but for future generations. That responsibility includes thoughtfully evaluating significant opportunities, considering both the immediate impact and the long-term benefit to the communities the YMCA serves.

While we recognize that not everyone will agree with the outcome, we are confident the decision reflects thoughtful governance, careful evaluation and the Board's commitment to strengthening the YMCA's ability to serve communities across the Charlotte region for years to come.

The Morrison YMCA transaction resulted from a unique, unsolicited opportunity – not a decision to place the property on the market.

Because the Board determined it had a specific opportunity to evaluate, its responsibility was to assess whether accepting that opportunity best served the YMCA's mission and long-term stewardship responsibilities. After careful evaluation, the Board concluded that it did.

No. North Carolina law does not prohibit nonprofit organizations from selling real estate. The Morrison YMCA transaction involves only one property within the YMCA of Greater Charlotte's broader real estate portfolio and was approved by the YMCA's Board of Directors following more than a year of thoughtful evaluation of the organization's mission, fiduciary responsibilities and long-term priorities.

Yes. The Morrison YMCA property is not subject to restrictions limiting its use exclusively to parks and recreation. The property is zoned for institutional use, which permits churches, houses of worship and other similar institutional uses under applicable zoning regulations.

A significant portion of the proceeds will be reinvested in South Charlotte, including enhancements to nearby YMCA facilities like Sara’s YMCA, Harris YMCA and Hemby Program Center, expanded programming, and additional community-based opportunities that help ensure families continue to have access to the programs, services and connections they value.

More broadly, the YMCA will continue investing in facilities, programs, people and community spaces across the Charlotte region to strengthen member experience, expand community impact and ensure the organization remains well-positioned to serve future generations.

The Morrison Advisory Board will continue serving as an important voice throughout the transition.

Working alongside Morrison YMCA leadership and Association leadership, Advisory Board members will help inform future investments, programming and community partnerships in Ballantyne and South Charlotte. Their deep understanding of the community and the relationships they've built over many years will help shape how the YMCA continues serving the area in the future.

The YMCA remains deeply committed to serving Ballantyne and South Charlotte.

Our leadership team is working alongside the Morrison Advisory Board to shape a long-term plan for how we will continue serving this community. That planning includes continued investment in nearby South Charlotte YMCA locations, while also exploring partnerships and other opportunities to support programs, childcare and camp experiences.

As planning continues, Morrison YMCA leadership, the Morrison Advisory Board and Association leadership will work together to help shape future programming and investments. Additional details will be shared as plans are finalized.