YMCA restricted opening

By BRENNEN NORMAND

May 21, 2020 at 10:45 am CDT

Collin Brennan of Creston uses a tricep press at the Southern Prairie YMCA after the facility was equipped with new weight room equipment in 2018. The YMCA reopened Monday with limited capacity to adhere to Gov. Kim Reynold’s guidelines, which permits allowing only 50% capacity. Only five members will be permitted inside the weight and cardio rooms at a time. (CNA file)

Southern Prairie YMCA reopened Monday to individuals 18 and older with strict guidelines in phase one of Iowa’s reopening.

Business hours, like many places of business, will be at altered times. The YMCA will open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Despite reopening to the public, services will also be limited. The pool, locker rooms, racquetball court, child watch and water classes are canceled until further notice. There will also be no guest passes, day passes, nation-wide memberships, food, towel service, loitering in common areas, cash payments, rentals or parties allowed.

With a 50% capacity, only 50 members are allowed inside at a time. The weight room and cardio room will hold a maximum of five members each. The track, east side gym and west side gym are each allowed 10 individuals.

The gym will be used for “land group fitness classes only” with an updated fitness schedule coming soon.

Dana Dodge, executive director of Southern Prairie YMCA, said in the May 2020 pamphlet to avoid going to the “Y” if an individual is feeling sick or has any of the listed symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle aches or pains, headache, sore throat or new loss of taste or smell.

“Please be advised that at any time we may be required to lockdown our ability again,” Dodge said in the May 2020 pamphlet. “This is a very fluid situation and we have to be willing to mitigate a response to protect those most vulnerable. We appreciate all our members and the Creston Community. We thank you for staying with us and supporting us during this unprecedented time.”