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Gyms, fitness centers putting safety plans in place as they prepare to reopen

Beginning Friday, gyms and fitness centers will reopen in most of the state as part of Governor Eric Holcomb's plan to get Indiana back on track.

PLAINFIELD, Ind. (WTHR) - Beginning Friday, gyms and fitness centers will reopen in most of the state as part of Governor Eric Holcomb's plan to get Indiana back on track.

The Plainfield Recreation Center in Hendricks County will reopen Sunday.​

"We're basically the community center for the Town of Plainfield and a lot of Hendricks County, so we do have a lot more interaction with patrons than what a typical fitness center would have," said Brent Bangel, director of operations for the center.​

Changes start at the front door.​ Upon entering, an employee will greet guests from behind a plexiglass wall wearing a facemask.​ Equipment will be spaced six feet apart and cleaned after each use.​

"We've always asked our guests to wipe off equipment before they use it, but we've added some additional signage to help promote that as much as we possibly can. We've also designated 1-2 employees to be working in the fitness center at all times to be constantly going and wiping off equipment," said Bangel.​


Bangel said guests, limited to 100 people, will be required to bring their own towels. There will also be no indoor group classes, access to the pool, basketball courts and other amenities for awhile.​

"Our town council did approve for us to do membership extensions at no cost to anyone who had a membership that was active during the closure of COVID-19," said Bangel.​

Across town in Hamilton County, ThriveFit in Westfield will reopen Tuesday.​

"Moving to the next phase is very exciting for us. We've been waiting and ready to open," said owner Darin Moon. ​

Moon said guests can enter through garage doors and class size will be limited to 20 people. Each person will workout in a designated square. ​

"We have seven different hours that we're providing. There's going to be an hour break between each class for us to clean everything. We are going to request members clean off their equipment," said Moon.​


Moon said ThriveFit has been and will continue offering virtual classes. In person, trainers will be required to wear face masks.​

"We're trying to think two steps ahead of what will make people feel comfortable. We want people to stay safe," said Moon.​ "I feel like this is the time where more people are taking their health more serious than they ever had. We as a gym really want to be able to get out and help people. We want to get people moving."

The Fishers, Hendricks Regional Health and Witham Family YMCAs plan to reopen to guests beginning Sunday.​ Leaders there say guests will be asked health screening questions prior to entering the building.​

Members will be able to work out, use the gyms, swim laps in the indoor pools and, beginning on May 26, use Play & Learn for ages 3 and older in small groups. ​

Summer childcare enrollment opens Friday, May 22.

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