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Mar 22

How area fitness centers are responding to coronavirus concerns – The Star Press

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Ball State football player Curtis Blackwell performs tire exercises on the street outside of his apartment with fellow player Dylan Koch after most gyms in the area closed amid coronavirus concerns. Koch and Blackwell said they wanted to avoid Ball State's recreation center to prevent the further spread of the disease.(Photo: Jordan Kartholl / The Star Press)

MUNCIE, Ind. As state governments across the United States and nations around the world have grappled with what decisions to make when it comes to handling coronavirus concerns, so, too, have fitness centers in and around Muncie.

Whether its been the YMCA of Muncie or Ball States Jo Ann Gora Student Recreation and Wellness Center, Planet Fitness or Muncie CrossFit at The Arsenal, or the Henry County YMCA, each operation has had to address if theyd remain open or temporarily close. Some are still available to their patrons and some arent, at least not on site. And even with the decisions that have already been made, each organization is continuing to monitor the situation COVID-19 is presenting.

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Day-by-day, or even hour-by-hour, new information could arise.

As of Monday, the YMCA of Muncie had already closed its downtown and Yorktown locations until March 29. Child Watch at the remaining Northwest location had been made unavailable until the same date, as had group exercise classes. But by Tuesday at 8 p.m. the reality changed again.

For the safety of all members of our community ALL YMCA membership branches will be CLOSED effective today, 3/17/20 at 8 PM until further notice, read a statement on the YMCA of Muncies website. We thank you for your patience in this time of uncertainty. Look for future communications regarding membership options soon. We hope that this passes soon and are looking forward to seeing you upon reopening. In the meantime, stay tuned for updates as new information arrives.

By Wednesday morning, each location sported a sign on one of its entry doors reiterating that point, apologizing for any inconvenience and thanking everyone for their patience. No cars sat in the parking lot at the Northwest building, while a lone truck was parked outside the one in Yorktown and a couple cars were alongside the structure downtown.

However, on the YMCA of Muncie website there is access to online group exercise classes.

The Henry County YMCA in New Castle remained open until Wednesday, when it announced it would close at the end of the day for two weeks, through April 1.

Planet Fitness on McGalliard Road announced it would close temporarily to prevent the spread of coronavirus. (Photo: Jordan Kartholl / The Star Press)

The parking lot in front of Muncies Planet Fitness club sat mostly empty Wednesday just before noon, and for good reason.

On Monday the senior vice president for communications for Planet Fitness, McCall Gosselin, outlined in a statement to The Star Press what the organization was doing to provide a clean and welcoming workout environment that held the health of its members, team members and neighbors as a top priority. Gosselin discussed Planet Fitness procedures, which included regular overnight cleaning and team members regularly using disinfectant cleaning supplies on all equipment, surfaces and areas possible. By Tuesday, a change had been made.

Dear Valued Members, The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and its impact on our members, team members, and communities is unprecedented and changing rapidly, read a notification at the Muncie locations entry. The health and well-being of our Planet Fitness Family is, and has always been, our #1 priority. As a result, out of an abundance of caution, the club will be temporarily closed effective March 17th for two weeks through March 31st. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will reopen as soon as permitted. Your health and well-being is our top priority. We appreciate your support and shared efforts to help keep our community strong and healthy! Thank you, Club Management.

Gosselin had said in his statement they were going to continue to monitor the situation.

The climbing wall at Ball State's recreation center is dismantled for cleaning amid coronavirus concerns.(Photo: Jordan Kartholl / The Star Press)

There were some, but not many, people scattered about the Jo Ann Gora Student Recreation and Wellness Center on Ball States campus Wednesday afternoon. Whether they were playing basketball or using one of the machines, members of the campus community continued to use the facility that, at least for the time being, wasnt temporarily closing.

However, that doesnt mean no steps have been taken.

BSU said its Recreation Services has posted signs about wiping down the fitness equipment before and after somethings used. That, in addition to asking for IDs to be shown rather than swiped, canceling intramural sports, suspending sport club activities, closing the climbing wall to clean it and canceling any five-on-five, one-on-one or group competitions on the basketball courts. And BSU said an efforts been made by Sports Facilities and Recreation Services to instruct their all staff on why its important to clean and clean often.

The guidelines were issued in response to Indiana Governor Eric Holcombs, which included limiting gatherings to no more than 50 people. They also include BSU Rec Fit classes functioning with proper social distancing, no equipment sharing and the cleaning of equipment after classes.

Ball State could modify hours and operations if additional information and guidance leads it to that decision.

Ball State football player Dylan Koch performs tire exercises on the street outside of his apartment with fellow player Curtis Blackwell (not pictured) after most gyms closed amid coronavirus concerns. Koch and Blackwell said they wanted to avoid Ball State's recreation center to prevent the further spread of the disease.(Photo: Jordan Kartholl / The Star Press)

As a class with about 10 people, including staff, began at the facility Wednesday at about noon, owner and coach BJ McKay told The Star Pressthat how his organization plansto move forward had yet to be determined, although headded there would be a meeting that afternoon to discuss next steps.

McKay is still attempting to absorb as much information as he can and as many recommendations from local authorities, the state, CDC and others as possible. Hes gathering facts about what individuals can do to mitigate concerns that arise. Hes acting with an understanding of how fluid the situation is.

All of our members have the option to come, not come, McKay said. They have the option to say, Hey, we want to wait for a while. And we encourage them to make those choices for themselves.

Options such as online and virtual training, private coaching for individuals and families that limits the number of people in the facility at one time and more are being considered and could be taken up after the Wednesday meeting. McKay wants to be able to accommodate anyone whos at risk of being affected most by the coronavirus.

And theyre already sanitizing every possible surface that is touched, from the equipment to the door handles to the markers use to write down workouts, in addition to having coaches ensure social distancing is being practiced.

Its been a pain, but its been the right thing to do going above and beyond there, McKay said. I mean, for the flu let alone the coronavirus.

The tight-knit community McKay believes is there is seen by McKay as a bonus, too, both because the class sizes wont go against established guidelines and those who attend are already people McKay knows act appropriately when it comes to their health.

Economically, the outlook is pretty bleak if too many memberships are paused or canceled amid coronavirus concerns. Muncie CrossFit at The Arsenal is not too expansive of an operation to withstand that. But above all McKay is committed to making decisions if the information he gathers leads him in that direction. If theres a verified COVID-19 case in the area or spread that determines it wouldnt be wise to continue to have the facility open it may temporarily close.

Could we do it? Sure, McKay said. Thats definitely on the table and first and foremost its thinking about our members, their health. What is the right thing to do? And the folks, by the way, the folks and the facilities that choose to close, for them they decided thats the right decision and I cant fault them for it.

Several students play basketball at Ball State's recreation center Wednesday morning. With most gyms in the area closed due to coronavirus, few options remain for indoor recreation and exercise. (Photo: Jordan Kartholl / The Star Press)

Jordan Guskey covers Ball State and East Central Indiana high schools at the Star Press. Contact him at (765) 213-5813, jmguskey@muncie.gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

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How area fitness centers are responding to coronavirus concerns - The Star Press

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