The Bowling Green YMCA shut down as of Wednesday, the board of directors announced. We feel that weve made a very strong collective effort to start a YMCA that Bowling Green could be proud of, but the timing just doesnt seem to be right, YMCA Board of Directors Chairman Tony Salyer said in announcing the decision. The YMCA had been in Bowling Green since 1982 and had undergone several changes in the past two decades, he said. But in recent years, fewer and fewer people had been using the facilities, and the economic drain became too great. The Y closed its 6,000-square-foot facility on Lovers Lane in December because of declining participation, saying at the time it would explore opening another. But with other similar facilities going up in the meantime and an apparent decline in interest in Y programs, the board was forced to permanently end the Bowling Green branch this week, Salyer said. First Baptist Church is almost ready to break ground on a new fitness facility that will include a gymnasium, exercise and meeting rooms and a track, pastor Mark Hopper said. Total Fitness Connection also is constructing a new facility in town, and the Warren County Parks Department expects to complete its new fitness facility at East Side Park in late July, barring inclement weather. Earlier, the YMCA had expressed interest in partnering with the countys Parks and Recreation Department to use parks facilities for various programs, but those discussions never got very far, county Parks Director Phil Moore said. We just couldnt reach a decision we felt was amicable to both sides, he said.