Plans are in place to keep the Fitness Center on First Street in downtown Houston open, as the Houston Optimist Club will take it over now that Texas County Memorial Hospital is stepping away.
Optimist Club President Chad Dzurick said the club expects to begin running the center soon.
“Basically the hospital made the business decision to quit operating the fitness center,” Dzurick said. “The actual transfer will happen sometime in February, but we’re still in talks about timing and a lot of other aspects involved.”
The Optimist Club already owns the building housing the center, and TCMH has been paying a monthly rental fee for its use since moving the fitness facility there in the fall of 2010. Dzurick said the hospital will donate most of the equipment currently in place at the
center, but will also transfer some to its own physical therapy facilities, and donate some to area schools.
“We appreciate whatever we get,” Dzurick said. “Once we take control, we’ll assess our inventory situation and go from there. We’ll probably need a treadmill or two, and some other things, but this is a far better scenario than walking into an empty building.”
Several changes will accompany the management switch at the fitness center, including the building’s entrances being outfitted with electronic thumbprint scanning and pin code equipment. The new technology will mean members can use the facility whenever they want.
“Our plans are to turn it into a 24-hour fitness center,” Dzurick said. “There’s a similar operation in Mountain Grove, so we’re not doing anything that’s not already being done in that industry.”
Plans also include adding video surveillance equipment.
“That will allow us to see who’s coming and going so people aren’t letting others in who shouldn’t be there,” Dzurick said. “And we’ll also be able to go back and look at tape if there’s ever a problem. That’s also nothing new; I’m pretty sure that’s just how it’s being done everywhere now with this kind of facility.”
Once the changeover is finalized, an Optimist Club representative will likely be present at the center for several hours each afternoon.
“Our preliminary idea is from about 3:30 to 6:30,” Dzurick said. “They’ll basically be there to sign people up, and provide information to anyone who wants it.”
Dzurick said discussions are ongoing regarding what programs and classes will be offered under the center’s new management structure.
“We’re in talks with several individuals about running different programs,” Dzurick said. “Once we take possession of it, we’ll first assess our equipment needs and then we’ll start assessing program needs.”
Dzurick said he wanted to address some inaccurate information that has spread around the community regarding Optimist Club youth programs that currently take place at the center.
“I had some parents call me about rumors that we were shutting down the day care and after-school programs,” he said. “These programs will continue to operate as they have in the past and will benefit from enhanced security and video surveillance being installed throughout the facility.”
For the time being, the fitness center will remain open under the TCMH umbrella.
“There have been a lot of changes over the past six months, and I know the hours have dwindled a lot from where they originally were,” Dzurick said. “But they’re going to keep it open until we’re ready to take over.”
Fitness center membership fees will stay the same at the outset of the Optimist Club’s takeover, but could be adjusted in the near future. The current cost of individual membership is $30 a month or $20 for seniors. Family and couple discounts are also available.
“We’ll probably be examining costs a month or two after we take possession,” Dzurick said.
For more information about the upcoming changes at the fitness center, call Dzurick at 417-217-0401, or call any other Optimist Club board member.
“We’ll be getting more information out to the public as time goes on,” Dzurick said. “But we just hated the idea of seeing this facility shut down. It’s the only such facility in the community, and that’s definitely the destiny it was headed for.”