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"Be as patient as you can." That's the message that the executive director of the YMCA of McKeesport has for patrons being displaced by the facility's closing.

"I can see the disappointment on their faces," Dexter Hairston tells the Almanac. "We understand it's a difficult time. We're all on their team.

"We're working to make sure we meet with whoever we can and try to preserve a YMCA presence in McKeesport," he says. "We're trying to tell folks that this is a quality community and that we want to stay involved."

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As reported first by the Almanac last week, the YMCA's 87-year-old Sinclair Street facility will close to the general public on June 1. The indoor pool closed on Saturday.

The downsizing comes as the city Y struggles with more than $500,000 in debt incurred by previous managers and with a rapidly aging building that needs $4 million in capital improvements.

"There's some history that we have to face up to," Hairston says. "With today's economic climate, it makes it a longer process ... it's going to be a rather arduous task, but we need to work through the disappointment and keep looking for the end of the rainbow."

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YMCA health and fitness members are being redirected to the Wilmerding YMCA, which is a branch of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.

The McKeesport Sharks swim team has merged with the Wilmerding YMCA's swim team, and is splitting meets between McKeesport and East Allegheny high schools, Hairston says.

"Most people have been kind and understanding," says Hairston, who became executive director in 2007. "It's extremely disappointing to them, because this is a very close-knit community. A lot of the members have been here for years, and their families before them, and they share that with you."

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Youth educational and after-school programs, which are funded by public and private grants, are generally located off-site and will continue to operate as usual, Hairston says.

The one exception is the Teen LEAD program, which meets at Sinclair Street. Hairston says he has asked McKeesport Area School District for permission to relocate to one of its buildings.

About 20 part-time staff members worked on health and wellness programs, and officials of the Pittsburgh YMCA, who have been providing management assistance, have said they will try to find positions for them at other facilities.

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The city YMCA has nine full-time employees, including two at Camp T. Frank Soles in Somerset County. Their futures --- and Hairston's --- are unclear.

Hairston confirms that Camp Soles may have to be sold to pay down the YMCA's debts.

He adds there have been discussions about finding a way for Camp Soles to continue as a Y camp.

The YMCA's residential housing for low-income tenants, which is subsidized by Allegheny County, will continue through June 2010, Hairston says.

But without additional funding the program will have to be discontinued, and the Sinclair Street building will have to be closed completely, he says.

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As for the popular fitness programming, Hairston says the McKeesport Y is committed to finding an alternative site. Any decision, however, is probably some months away.

"We have a huge 'Silver Sneaker' population, and our group exercise program is very popular," Hairston says. "We hope this is just a temporary setback."