Roanoke City Fitness Centers – Closed but Not Forgotten

Breckenridge and Woodrow Wilson, the city’s two remaining fitness centers, officially closed their doors to monthly members June 27. Once championed by the city as a means to promote fitness for its residents, the fitness centers instead became a casualty of painful budget cuts.

But as the feelings of loss gradually subside, former members are left with fond memories of working out with their friends and neighbors.

Derrick Bond said of the people he will miss,“[they] made working out less of a hassle when they are there to make you laugh and smile.”

Some members believed that having these friends around them while they were working out motivated them to achieve their personal goals. Jerry Guzi, a member at Woodrow Wilson for over two years, ran the equivalent of seven 26.2-mile marathons, and walked an additional 365 miles on the treadmill, all in one year, in the company of his fellow members.

Guzi, like others, not only used the neighborhood fitness center to stay in shape, but also attached sentimental value to its mere existence.

“Although I’ve lived many other places, I grew up playing little league baseball right there at Raleigh Court Park.  It was ironic that I came back here to Woodrow Wilson Fitness Center, and worked out as I looked out the window, only to see the same spot where I played baseball 50 years ago.”

Back in April, when word began to spread that the city was considering the closings, members began to question whether fitness would remain a priority for the city and whether the centers were profitable.

Assistant City Manager Brian Townsend explained that Roanoke citizens had made it known in surveys and in public meetings that the priorities should be education and public safety, not necessarily parks and recreation.

Furthering their own demise, the fitness centers were not paying for themselves.

“The two remaining fitness centers were projected to operate at a cost level that exceeded expected revenue by approximately $73,000 in fiscal year 2010”, Townsend said.

Kurt Rheinheimer, a member at Woodrow Wilson, still thinks the city could have acted more to proactively to increase revenue.

“According to my research, there were 4,000 houses in a one-mile radius of each fitness center.  Considering households, you are up to at least 10,000 people around each of them.  How many of those people ever had any idea the resource was right there in their neighborhood?  Probably less than 10%.  All the city had to do was make up a flyer and put one (at everyone’s door.)  You instantly have plenty of people to pay the way.  Plenty,” Rheinheimer said.

As part of the decision process, the city realized that these former members would not be completely left without options.

“[There are] options to choose from, in terms of private sector operated facilities…like Planet Fitness and the non-profit YMCA,” Townsend said.

Travis Schuyler, a fitness center member who considers fitness crucial to his well being, has now joined the Roanoke Valley adult soccer league and plans to join Gold’s Gym.

Former members are finding that exercise equipment and gyms are readily available elsewhere in the valley…but that neighborhood friendliness may be harder to find.

Woodrow Wilson member Susan Richerson said she met neighbors and made new friends that she never would have met, had it not been for her neighborhood fitness center.

“I remember one birthday in particular.  They all got together and got me a cake, a birthday card and sang me ‘Happy Birthday’.  It was one of the nicest things non-family members have ever done for me.  I will definitely miss everyone.  I always felt welcome there, from the very first day I joined,” Richerson said.

While Breckenridge and Woodrow Wilson Fitness Centers are closed, the memories created may live on forever.