It was recently announced that the closure of fitness facilities will be lifted as of Monday, May 4. While we are as anxious as you are to see our doors open, we are more concerned about having the proper health and safety measures in place prior to opening. Due to these extra precautions the Club will be opening Wednesday, May 6 at 5 am for normal operating hours.
As we have alluded to in previous communications, the Club will look much different than it did before, and we will take a cautionary approach to reopening with a goal of not having to shut down again. There are several restrictions put in place by the Back To Business Framework for Memphis and Shelby Co. that we will have to abide by in order to operate safely for both the membership and the employees:
Limit occupancy to 25% building occupancy.
Limit workouts to 45 minutes.
Adjust equipment layout or close/restrict access to equipment as necessary to maintain at least six feet of separation between users.
Require customers to clean equipment with disinfecting wipes before and after use.
Conduct regular and thorough cleaning of all equipment, surfaces and areas of the facility using disinfectant cleaning supplies.
Provide hand sanitizing stations for use upon customer entry and exit.
Employees must wear face masks.
In an effort to allow as many members as possible to work out each day but still follow the 25% occupancy and 45 minute workout restrictions, a reservation will be required to ensure immediate access. More information about the reservation system will be communicated Monday, May 4.
For those members checking into the Club starting May 6, we will also be doing temperature and wellness check prior to entry. Members are strongly encouraged to wear masks; however, they will not be required.
Many of our operations and offerings will be limited during this initial phase of reopening and some will simply become commonplace for the foreseeable future. Staff has been hard at work moving equipment and rearranging the facility in order to accommodate classes and equipment within these new parameters. We have moved about half of the equipment from the weight floor to a basketball court. Similarly, classes that would normally take place in the Cycle Studio and Mind & Body Studio will also be staged in the other basketball court temporarily.
Due to our effort to minimize touch points, ensure occupancy and social distancing restrictions, there will be several areas or programs that will not be open or offered when we first reopen. Because of the 45 minute restriction, we are asking all members come prepared to work out, as we will not have showers or lockers available during this time. Other areas or programming restrictions that will NOT be offered initially include:
Basketball or racquetball
Hot tub
Showers, saunas and locker use (Men's and Women's locker rooms can be used for changing and bathrooms)
Cafe
Communal spaces such as the Community Room, lounge and coffee area
Members under the age of 16 without an adult.
Cash will not be accepted. Purchases can be made on account or with a credit card.
Mats in any workout spaces
Guest pass usage
Swim Lessons and Swim Team
Specialty camps like Happy Feet or Bits, Bytes and Bots
Birthday parties or other rentals
Please be assured that we take Club cleanliness very serious and are making adjustments to our chemicals and processes in order to ensure a safe environment.
Intermissions will occur throughout the day in each area of the Club to ensure adequate time to clean and disinfect high touch areas before they are reopened for member use.
Members will be required to clean the equipment before and after usage with the wipes provided throughout the facility.
Members will need to provide their own mats for stretching, yoga and Pilates classes, as well as all other group fitness classes. All mats have been removed for use at this time.
Cleaning protocols have been updated to include higher grade cleaning and disinfecting solutions, additional hand sanitizing dispensers and wipe stations, and increased cleaning times.
All group fitness areas will be disinfected after each class.
For those members who utilize Child Care there will be additional safety restrictions if you chose to take advantage of this service during your workouts.
Child care will only accept children ages 3 to 11.
A reservation is required for child care access. Reservations are also 45 minutes.
Personal belongings will not be allowed in child care. These items include pacifiers, water bottles, outside toys, electronic devices, etc.
Staff will not be diapering children.
Parents will not be allowed to enter into the child care area.
As a reminder, your membership has been on hold since we closed the Club on March 16. The unused portion of your March dues will be credited towards the first future dues draft upon reopening on May 6, and you will only be billed for the prorated portion of May that we will be open, and not the full month. Your May draft will only reflect an 11 day charge of the prorated monthly amount. Paid in full members will receive an additional 50 days added to the end of your initial contract end date to reflect the amount of time we were closed.
Understandably, some of you might feel apprehensive or uncomfortable coming back at this time. If you do feel this way, we will be more than happy to continue to place your membership on freeze, free of charge until a later date.
Thank you for your patience during this unprecedented time, and we hope to be able to lift some of these temporary restrictions as soon as possible. We look forward to seeing you back in the Club soon and when you feel comfortable. Your safety and well-being is always our main priority. As always, if you have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@gacfitness.org or 757-7370.
Phil Rogers
Club Director