The Recreation Centers of Sun City West would like to remind its social clubs, gym and indoor fitness users that those facilities remain closed due to state mandates.
Several club members have questioned why the Rec Centers has closed certain facilities, as well as why we are enforcing a mask mandate. To summarize:
- Masks are required throughout Maricopa County, by order of the Board of Supervisors.
- Gyms, fitness centers and indoor exercise classes are prohibited by order of the Governor.
- All gatherings of more than 50 people, even if outdoors and even with social distancing in place, are prohibited by the Governor.
- The Rec Centers is not scheduling club events in Beardsley Park due to the 50-person rule. We are making an exception for the Special Events Department due to the need to secure bands in advance, and to allow adequate time for ticket sales. However, it is understood these may be canceled if the state does not lift its ban on gatherings of 50 or more.
- The Rec Centers is not scheduling larger clubs in Palm Ridge Summit Hall and RH Johnson Social Hall in part because of the 50-person rule, but also because those rooms are being reserved for Governing Board and Committee meetings, which need larger space due to physical distancing requirements.
- The Rec Centers’ clubs that are not yet open are closed because they involve indoor fitness classes; they require physical interaction (dancing); or they are inherently social (cards, Boomers) and six-foot distancing cannot be achieved.
The state will allow gyms and fitness centers in each county to reopen when certain benchmarks are hit. The Rec Centers is closely watching Maricopa County’s numbers and will apply to reopen as soon as possible. Please keep an eye out for announcements on suncitywest.com/covid19, on Facebook, and in the weekly enews.
Thank you!
Thank you for complying to keep all of us safe!!
I’m a member of line dancing and with the appropriate space, it is easy to do with the restrictions. It is seldom, if ever that we are within six feet of each other, so I’ve never understood your hard and fast line on this, especially during the summer when many people are gone. Further, I find it troublesome that both the summit hall and the social hall must be removed from use. Can’t the board and committees agree to work differently to open one of these large areas for use? Since March 12, I have continued to support and defend the decisons made by the Rec Centers, but I’m also finding little give on your part when there’s an opportunity like this.
I am also a member of the Line Dance Club. I have sent emails to the GM a few times. I have got a reply always with many excuses why we cannot open up. Actually right in the very beginning of the viruses we actually had two of our classes where we were told we had to be “6 ft apart. We did the classes and had no problems. We never line dance close together anyway. As others have stated those of us who are “active” three or four times a week we are desperate to get back to normal. That doesn’t mean doing nothing for all these months. Today our Gov. Ducey announced the positivity rate at 6%. Not 12%..This is not good for our morale and especially not healthy.
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I feel that our GM and Board are being unrealistically strict with the opening of SCW. You are all causing way way more damage to our community than good. I understand how frightening this virus has been. But… the numbers are down and we all need to return to the activities that drew us to this community in the first place. Let us make our own decisions of what risks if any we want to take. You NEED to open up. Stop hiding behind the Governor. Dance In Line… is NOT going to spread the virus. We social distance naturally and never leave sweat or spit on anything. OPEN US UP!!!!!!!
I agree with Pam Biggs about opening up for exercise and dance classes. For us seniors, we need to have movement for our bodies and cannot sit idly at home. Don’t treat us like children, we can social distance, sanitize, and wear masks when needed. Why was Tai Chi closed? We don’t move in class and wear masks. This was a great exercise for my body for movement and balance. Open up and let us be NORMAL again.
This is somewhat informative but the headline of the email indicates “gyms awaiting approval from state”. I thought you had to share with the state your plans for the gym opening and then state would approve or deny? Or is all of this predicated on the percentage of Positive cases hitting a certain number? Has SCW submitted their opening Plans to the state?
Also, it seems to me line dancing could easily social distance 6 feet and considerably less than 50. Even if masks were required we could gut through that!
Finally, finding a scheduling way of accommodating the committee meetings such that one of the facilities could be used for other things seems to me could be done. Might not be easy but if forced to do so I bet we could make it work.
Line dancing keeps everyone at a distance anyway. I can understand card clubs and shoulder to shoulder events. But, let dancers dance.
Thank GOD the golf course is open.
So everything is closed. Seems to me the corporation will have a hude savings on electricity, water, maintenance, toilet paper etc.
How about giving us a rebate on our dues
Our Karaoke Club has submitted a plan which includes social distancing as well as sanitation procedures. No one wants to get sick. We know that. However, limiting social contact is damaging to our mental well being. We need to have something to do. the Governor’s restrictions are unrealistic. We are adults. Let us be the judge of what is safe and what is frivolous.
Since people are allowed to bowl we should be allowed to dance in a line. Can you petition our Governor to reclassify us out of the “gym category?” Can you have your Board and Committee meetings at another location? Our Rock “N Rhythm dance class meets on Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.. I doubt if you have meetings on Saturday. Let us have our dance classes!
I agree and the numbers for SCW I may be wrong but if taken from the hospitals include many people outside SCW
You are correct. 62% of Banner patients come from Surprise and 37% from 85374 which also includes some areas outside SCW.
I’m an adult and am fully capable of making my own decision as to whether to support any club by attending classes/events or to stay home. I pay yearly rec fees — please open clubs!!
Since people are allowed to bowl we should be allowed to dance in a line. Can you petition our Governor to reclassify us out of the “gym category?” Can you have your Board and Committee meetings at another location? Our Rock “N Rhythms class meets on Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.. I doubt if you have meetings on Saturdays. Let us go to our dance classes. Martha McCorkle
I have read people’s questions and comments, and I too, do not understand why folks cannot line dance. I personally am not line dancing at this time, but have in the past, and people do naturally social distance while line dancing.
Please throw us some hope or folks may not be coming back.
8/20/20, There have been 346 Virus cases in Zip code 85375.
See:
https://adhsgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/93b5204128b84ae99fa607cce55357b7
There is huge difference in gym activities and fitness dancing. The board needs to reevaluate and find another place for meetings…like outside. We pay for this space to recreate, dance, and exercise on an individual level. We do not touch each other or use common equipment. Stop thinking of stepping on carpets and spreading the virus. Other sports that are currently allowed spread more germs than dancing 6’ apart.
regarding the case count per zip code: I have been following that map for months. It’s a total of 345 cases in our zip code but please keep in mind that is cumulative over the past 4 months or more….and new cases have dropped sharply in the last month….masks, hand washing and social distancing works 🙂
It is rather unreasonable to categorize line dancing with fitness centers. I feel you have made some questionable decisions (like closing the golf courses for those few weeks when winter visitors were here in full force, or proceeding with a raise in fees at a time when our facilities have been off limits now for about 5 months), and this categorization is no different, particularly in light of bowling being open. This is definitely another poor decision.
What does “awaiting moderate” mean? I have not said anything that was either rude or vulgar. I am just stating my opinion
I have been saying for months that the failure of this Rec Board to actually use their brains to try and accommodate clubs such as the Line Dance and R&R club is mind blowing to me. This Rec board has followed the easy and also slow witted path to just close down these dance clubs. Maybe someone should show these idiots that we don’t actually dance cheek to cheek. In fact you people with the power, HELLO, we have so few residents attending these classes in the summer that we could actually stand 10 feet apart with rows 10 feet apart. But nooooo. To many of us the dance clubs were our only choice for exercise. Shame on the Rec Board for its closed and small minded attitude to not accommodate these clubs. Just a little imagination on this board’s part is obviously more than their meager brain cells can handle. And stop blaming all this on Ducey. These dance clubs have nothing in common with gyms and fitness centers.
I understand the frustration of not being able to take part in the activities that people enjoy. It is true that the numbers for Covid-19 are down, but how long will we enjoy this if responsible leadership in our Rec Centers falter? We are on the brink of a resurgence and it is most important, now, to be extra careful. The Spanish Flue in 1918 flared up at the end of WWI because people threw caution to the wind and gathered to celebrate. Let’s not see that happen today. I thank the SCW Recreation Centers for being responsible and not caving to the complaints but listening to the suggestion given by the CDC. With patience this trying time will become a bad memory and we’ll be able to safely get back to enjoying life again. In the meantime, be well.
Thank you Janet….I agree we need to listen to science and the CDC… I miss line dancing as much as the next guy, but, we need to act responsibly also. Hopefully we will soon be at a point that we can dance again soon! I will say I’ve never done so much walking…I’m actually starting to like it!
Both my wife and my self are walkers and need walking to stay healthy. It’s too dam hot to walk outside. Why can’t they open the walking track at Palm Ridge? We’ve haven’t seen too many people there when it was last open. If everyone walking wears masks, what danger do we pose? Please, open the track!
I also have used the indoor track
Only 5 walkers at various speed so very much distanced
Suggestion people could reserve if it gets too many
I have sat back and watch RCSCW and Mr. Schwind make 1 excuse after another in order to delay opening the different facilities. It goes back to closing the golf courses. That’s when either the board or Mr. Schwind decided they know what’s best for all of us here at Sun City West..
Now the newest is awaiting for State approval for the Gyms to open..PLEASE, stop insulting us with your nonsense.
When the Govenor shut down the gyms this last time this is when the plans to reopen should have been started being put together, not after the Court overturned the Governor’s order..Not long after the fact. It’s another delay tactic by this administration.
I think the new board members that just took office should look long and hard at how certain people in critical positions are making decisions and running the facilities and the clubs.. most of theses decisions are not in the best interest of the fee paying residents of Sun City West and I think the board should start looking to make some replacement decisions with management. Playing catch-up with opening plans is not the way our facilities and community should be managed.
Mr. Board President, take a walk around the Pool at RH Johnson and look how the chairs are spaced. There is enough empty space to add at least another 20 chairs and still maintain the 6ft distancing.. very little thought was given to the layout and placement. Just saying it should be looked, or do we need to submit a plan for that too.
Come on management stop with the excuses and let’s get our facilities and clubs opened up and stop the nonsense.
You know it’s all part of the delay tactic..
Open up the card rooms with mandatory masks- no food served. Disinfect tables, chairs and cards. Anyone not feeling well – stay away.
After I posted my thanks, I read many replies criticizing decisions…..my response to them is “we live every day…BUT we die, only once”. Thank you SCW for keeping us alive and safe. We are all craving socialization…but I want to do it on Earth…not in HELL!!
I’m sorry but if you call this living, you are satisfied with a very sedentary and boring existence. Woody Allen put it best: “If you give up everything that gives you joy just to live longer, what’s the point?”. Personal responsibility can be substituted for irrational mandates. Coronavirus symptoms seem to include diminishing common sense.