Update: For members that are looking to reserve a time for the fitness centers, sign up sheets will be placed outside the entrance to each facility for members to sign up for the next day. Sign up sheets for Palm Ridge will be made available Sunday, Aug. 30, while R.H. Johnson sign up sheets will be made available Wednesday, Sept. 2.
With the Arizona Department of Health Services announcement today that community associations are authorized to reopen and operate indoor fitness centers/gyms, the Recreation Centers of Sun City West will be opening the Palm Ridge Fitness Center on Monday, Aug. 31, and R.H. Johnson Fitness Center on Thursday, Sept. 3.
This includes the indoor pool at Palm Ridge and the Activities Center (racquetball, table tennis, mini golf and bocce) at R.H. Johnson.
The Rec Centers has been planning for this eventuality for weeks, rescheduling employees from Beardsley and Kuentz recreation centers to meet the increased demands from the state for reopening. This includes staff dedicated to frequent cleanings and symptom/temperature checks at the newly opened facilities.
All members entering the fitness center/pool lobbies will be screened with contactless thermometers, regardless of whether they are entering a gym, pool or indoor walking track. The county mask mandate is still in effect, so no one will be allowed entry without a mask. Additionally, guests will not be allowed for the foreseeable future.
Hours of operation (seven days a week) will be as follows:
- Palm Ridge Swim and Fitness: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (includes walking track and indoor pools)
- RH Johnson Swim and Fitness: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (includes massage if massage therapists are operating)
- RH Johnson Activities Center: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Rec Centers will operate at lower capacity, as follows:
- Fitness Centers: 10 members plus two fitness trainers and two trainees
- RH Johnson Outdoor Pool: 80
- Palm Ridge Outdoor Pool: 60
- Palm Ridge Indoor Walking Pool: 20
- Palm Ridge Indoor Lap Pool: 12
- Palm Ridge Indoor Walking Track: 20
Kuentz and Beardsley will remain closed. (Clubs at Kuentz and Beardsley that were opened earlier remain open.) Kuentz is undergoing a major renovation and expansion; Beardsley will reopen at a later date if usage numbers at the other centers dictate a third center is needed.
Fitness Center users must sign up in advance to use the equipment in one-hour intervals. Between each one hour block, a half hour is reserved for staff to sanitize the entire gym and equipment. Additional cleaning will occur on the equipment between users, per ADHS.
The last phase of the Rec Centers reopening plan involves the social clubs and those such as dancing, exercise and others that require physical interaction. The fitness and exercise clubs that will be permitted to resume classes will be contacted by the Office of the Recreational Activities Manager regarding reopening. Changes in times and locations may be needed to accommodate hours of operation and mandated opening procedures.
Some clubs that opened earlier have announced they are voluntarily closing. Check suncitywest.com/covid19
for the latest on club openings.
Watch for all the latest at suncitywest.com/covid19 and sign up for the enews at suncitywest.com/enews.
Will you need to wear a mask while exercising or walking the indoor track?
Hi Chris. Members will be required to wear a mask while at the fitness centers/walking tracks as the county mask mandate is still in effect.
It’s a mask MANDATE…..not a LAW. You “powers that be” have to get up off of your “thrones” and let us decide what is best for us. After all, I think we’re ADULTS. Doesn’t 55 and over qualify for that???????? This garbage has been going on for 5 months with everything closed. When do we get our Rec. Dues refunds ??
Judy,
So you are over 55 and an adult. So when are you going to start acting like one? Wearing a mask is the responsible thing to do and as an “adult” you should be complying gladly to protect others and yourself. As for providing a refund for your dues, this virus was not the caused by nor the responsibility of the Rec Center. They have worked very hard to protect our residents from a potentially deadly result. Their costs have not gone down. They are not lining their pockets with extra cash. We are all in this together. It’s time people like you start acting like adults and doing your part without complaint.
I agree with Judy’s concern regarding the masks. The science doesn’t support the use of masks. And it’s healthy to have, and express, differences of opinion. No need to be angry or afraid.
Well said Mike!!
Well said. So many whiners in SCW. Kudos to the Rec Center Admin for all they are doing
Mike, Well said and thank you!
Mark, Adults make up their own minds as to what’s best for them. I am acting like one. Seems if you don’t know what’s best for you, follow the flock.
Thanks Mike. Well said
Thank You for your educated response. As documented and evidenced by Science, wearing masks appropriately (covering the nose and mouth) absolutely prevents the spread of Covid-19.
Sure would like some thing back in dues for the closure times, only fair to us!!!
If you don’t want to wear a mask stay home! There are several cases of Covid-19 in and around the recreation centers.
Sorry that wearing a mask is too hard for you 🥺
I suggest you stay home because if you don’t want to wear a mask, I don’t want to be anywhere near you.
I agree with Judy. We are adults indeed living in a free country. Not in China, Russia or Iran. Have some respect for our ability to make our own decisions of what’s good for us.
Regarding the fitness centers, Let me remind you that each member practices the common courtesy of disinfecting gym equipment after every use, no need to close down the gym every hour for a full cleaning process.
Also, I agree that we all should get a reduction in our rec fee. The facilities not being used must have had some utility cost savings that could be passed down to the members in the form of a refund or fee reduction for next year. It baffles me on how poorly the rec center finances are managed. It doesn’t feel right that the rec center board and gm exercise its power over all the residence by reminding us that we are obligated to pay the annual fee (which they determine) based on the agreement signed with every home purchase regardless if we use the facilities or not. The fact is that the rec centers have been closed by our gm and the governor and not been made available to us. We all should receive some sort of compensation.
While we members have all suffered with the closure of the rec centers for many months has the GM and admin staff continued to receive full salary compensation????
Regards,
Robert
Court ruling in Florida: the Mask Ordinance’s mandate … and that the requirement to swear such a covering has a clear rational basis based on the protection of public health.” More to the point, the Court continued, “constitutional rights and the ideals of limited government do not … allow (citizens) to wholly shirk their social obligation to their fellow Americans or to society as a whole…. After all, we do not have a constitutional right to infect others.”
The mask mandate has been highly effective at mitigation evidenced by the data. If more people had access or recommendations to read information by the Arizona Health Department and Johns Hopkins there would be less resistance to the mask mandate and other interventions needed to keep us safe.
Masks are worn out of respect for others. Deal with it or stay home.
Do you have to sign up to use the indoor track or can you just show up and if there are too many people you will be told no
Great question! And do we have to wear a mask while walking?
Answered above by RSCW staff. Yes, masks are required. Maricopa County requires masks in all inside buildings.
Hi Chuck. The indoor walking track at Palm Ridge is currently on a first-come, first-serve basis. Depending on the usage of the walking track, a reservation system may be put in place to meet capacity needs.
The line dance club does NOT have physical interaction of any kind. I have line danced in sun city west for over 20 years and I am sure I have never touched another dancer.
We can reserve tennis and pickleball times on-line through the portal. I’m sure many members appreciate it.
How about giving us the same on-line convenience for the fitness centers? and why not for everything else that requires a reservation too?
I agree, there should be an online way to sign up for fitness centers. It’s crazy to make people go in person to sign up on paper. It will encourage folks to go inside without reserving “while I’m here”.
Can we bring guests?
Hi Nancy. Guests will not be allowed for the foreseeable future.
Since no equipment is used with the walking track do you still need to sign up because of capacity limitations?
When will the locker rooms be open if you can use the bathroom why not the locker rooms are you just trying to save money so you don’t have to have anybody clean them and since we now have two facilities closed that’s kind of dumb we’ve always only done one facility at a time
Hi Mike. The indoor walking track at Palm Ridge is currently on a first-come, first-serve basis. Depending on the usage of the walking track, a reservation system may be put in place to meet capacity needs.
What is the mask protocol while swimming?
That’s funny !
The equip @ Beardsley fitness Ctr is different than the others & greatly desired. Why can’t Beardsley reopen?
Hi Debbie. Beardsley and Palm Ridge both share the same Matrix cardio equipment as well as the same Cybex Eagle strength training line. Other than a few special pieces at each facility, the equipment is about 95% identical.
Beardsley is currently closed as monitors and staff from there will be moved to Palm Ridge and R.H. Johnson to help meet the staffing requirements of ADHS guidelines.
Why is the Palm Ridge indoor pool opening but not the Beardsley Pool?
Great question.
Hi Marsha. Beardsley rec center is currently closed as all monitors and facility staff from there are needed at Palm Ridge and R.H. Johnson in order to meet the requirements of the ADHS guidelines, which requires additional staff at Palm Ridge and R.H. Johnson.
It’s a mask MANDATE…..not a LAW. You “powers that be” have to get up off of your “thrones” and let us decide what is best for us. After all, I think we’re ADULTS. Doesn’t 55 and over qualify for that???????? This garbage has been going on for 5 months with everything closed. When do we get our Rec. Dues refunds ??
When you don’t wear a mask I run the risk of contacting the virus. I want you to wear a mask to protect me.
Thank you for your comments Judy. It’s people like you who have caused this problem to begin with. The Rec centers are following CDC guidelines. Is the whole world wrong about this virus? The cost of running this community is high if you don’t like it here maybe it’s time to move on
Will the locker rooms be available?
Will it be possible to reserve a time in the pool or fitness room by calling or on line?
Hi Bill. Locker rooms will remain closed at this time due to conservation of cleaning products and staffing hours. As for possibly allowing time reservations by calling or online, we have discussed looking for an online option and have discussed allowing residents to call in but are not sure that we could handle the call volume without additional staffing.
Thank you for reacting so quickly to the state’s re-opening stats.
For Palm Ridge, what are the procedures for using the indoor walking track? Is there a separate sign up for that if we don’t intend to use any of the fitness machines in the weight room, just the walking track?
Can the sign up for walking be made electronically? It is a waste of carbon and time for us to physically show up to sign up and then return later for our time slot. Second the motion that if the pickle ball players have already figured this out, we should capitalize on that and have the same capability for remote sign up.
Hi Kerry. The indoor walking track is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Depending on how much the walking track is being used, there may be a reservation system put in place later down the line to maintain occupancy needs. Again, that depends on the usage of the walking track.
As for the sign-up sheets, we have discussed looking for an online option. For right now though, we are asking that residents interested in reserving a time do so by using the sign-up sheets that will be placed outside the fitness center entrances.
When will the locker rooms be open if you can use the bathroom why not the locker rooms are you just trying to save money so you don’t have to have anybody clean them and since we now have two facilities closed that’s kind of dumb we’ve always only done one facility at a time
Hi Mary Lou. Locker rooms will remain closed at this time due to conservation of cleaning products and staffing hours.
They are waiting till the snowbirds to get here to open Beardsley.
In our Zumba classes, we can easily distance over 12 feet and more. Can classes resume (without masks)?
As I’m sure you know some masks like the paper ones and the shroud masks are ineffective. Will there be a mandate for wearing a cloth double layer with a filter?
Will the lockers be available to use at the Rec Center’s?
It is absurd that the fitness centers have been closed for such a long period this year even though they have been forced to do so.
I believe that all Sun City Residents should received a 50% credit for dues that have been paid during the year.
I agree with Mike! How about sharing the sufferings we the members endured since many months of closures of our rec center, by reduction of your management’s staff salary/compensation, the saving of which could be applied for some refunding of rec fees to us.
Joy
I’m happy to hear things are starting to open up, and hopefully we can do so responsibly & without incident. Do I like that we haven’t been able to do our full array of activities…NO…BUT…I appreciate that management has been following the guidelines set by experts and scientists.
Regarding LINE DANCING: We dance at least 6-10 feet apart and we never come into contact with one another. Please judge each club individually and not lump all dancing together. Line dancing IS NOT a high impact aerobic activity…..
When will Liberty Field be opened? Players are outside and can easily social distance.
You have saved enough money by not having these clubs open. The. money you received from the PPE program for paying the employees. The money you received from us residence on our annual fees. I believe all three gyms should open. Also, how are you monitoring the usage? How are monitoring paying residents when the gym schedule is full and we can’t sign up. I believe you should eliminate the trainer time so more residents can use the gym. If not going to allow guests. Then you shouldn’t allow trainers
Thank You
Will there be a sign up sheet at Palm Ridge for lap pool? (Or just for fitness center?). Thank you.
I do not understand why 80 people are allowed in the RH Johnson outdoor pool, but only 32 people allowed in the huge Palm Ridge indoor pool. This seems like an excessive amount of caution. Are these rules arbitrarily coming from the administration? What is the basis for only allowing this few people in that huge pool. I do not understand your reasoning. Can you explain?
Because it is an indoor pool. State of AZ guidelines for reopening significantly limit occupancy for any indoor activity. Indoor spaces much more dangerous than outside.
Thanks for making the hard decisions to keep us all safe. This virus would go away if everyone was responsible. Please know that all of you that are working so hard are appreciated. As I drive around SCW, I can see our Rec Center dues at work. Looking good!
Is the outdoor pool at RHJ open to guests or not?
Hi Dennis. Guests will not be allowed for the foreseeable future.
I am glad to hear that SCW is starting to open. We will be fine. Thank you for allowing us to make our own decisions as to risk tolerance.
Now please please please open the Rock n Rhythms and Dance in Line classes that are held in OUR large ballrooms. We social distance, never touch each other and never share any bodily fluids.
We are a much much much lower risk than those you have “allowed” to open.
Seriously…
I am begging you all to reconsider the clubs that Pam and Martha run..
Thank you
I know you have been working hard to make re-opening as safe as possible. I do have a couple of questions. Have you installed higher quality air filters in your indoor spaces. Have you increased your air changes per hour in you system to get inside air replaced by clean outside air? Even with masks, indoor air quality is critically important.
I second the motion for Air Purifiers with Hyper HEPA filters in the fitness centers and other indoor areas. Many of the largest gyms, like Equinox have installed these machines to help keep their guests safe and the air clean. Seems like a great idea for SCW too!
This could help. A critical factor is how often a complete air exchange is done in an enclosed space. It needs to be several times an hour. Covid aerosol transmission is a huge concern. Fine particles can stay in the air for a long time and get recirculated through the HVAC system.
Yes, I believe it was on the Boston University website I saw the same recommendation.
You sound like a really angry person. This virus was not the fault of the Rec Center and they have tried (very successfully) to keep our cases down. I personally appreciate that. We are all in this together and we need to work together to get through it. As far as dues, they still had people working, maintenance, landscaping, sterilization of club rooms, etc. What would you like for them NOT to do for you to get a refund?
Sure would be nice and also very convenient to sign up for fitness time on line. How far in advance can you sign up?
Open the card rooms – there is no reason proper precautions can’t be used. It’s been way too long that we’ve been cooped up
This is not a reply to anyone, but I find it odd that many are using “code” sign on names or just a first name. I think everyone replying or making comments should use their full name. What are people afraid of? If you have an opinion, you should stand by it and not wither into the background.
Yes Judy I agree. Put it out there if you are going to comment.. Debby Phillips
Is there a limited amount of time that you can spend at the outdoor RH pool? Do you have you sign up in advance; paper or online?
Thank you
My question as an owner / member here in Sun City West is can the agreement we sign when purchasing our property be renegotiated? Having no access to the amenities during the arbitrary shutdown has caused me to lose faith that the situation won’t happen again because of the flu or other communicable disease. Without the amenities Sun City West is simply just another light brown housing development in the desert, not a value added community for active seniors.
David Hodnik, I agree with you completely; especially since learning the RCSCW have cancelled all activities (concerts, dances, Arts& Craft fair, etc., etc., etc.) until after the first of the year. Then, we have NO idea what they will come up with. It’s ridiculous.
Question: can we play doubles in pingpong or will it be singles only? Also why can’t the bocce courts be open in the evenings again when it’s cooler to play and can we use Rec center equipment or do you have to have your own?
When will Beardsley fitness center open?Be
Hi Bev. Beardsley will reopen at a later date if usage numbers at the other centers dictate a third center is needed.
Why are we not allowed to wear a face shield on the walking tract at Palm Ridge? Staff and members are allowed to wear them at the bowling center while bowling, playing pool or darts.