At long last, the Shelter Island FIT Center reopens this month, but with new rules to help keep staff and patrons safe.
“We are excited to announce that the FIT Center will be reopening,” Recreation Director Bethany Ortmann said in an email that outlined a two-phase reopening plan.
[Editor’s note: We updated this post to reflect postponement of reopening until Monday, September 21]
Phase 1 begins Monday, September 21. It had been scheduled for the 14th, but was postponed due to a delay in delivery of an essential air filtration component.
During Phase 1, the FIT Center, which is located adjacent to the school gym, will be open evenings and weekends only.
- Monday to Friday, first entry 4:30 to last entry 7:30 PM (see details below)
- Saturday, first entry 8 AM to last entry 3 PM
- Sunday, first entry 9 AM to last entry 1 PM
Phase 2 begins Monday, October 5, and includes additional morning hours, to be determined.
New signup instructions
Members may sign up for available 45-minute time slots, with no more than five patrons in the gym at once, Ortmann wrote. There is a limit of three visits per week per member. In Phase One, the time slots are:
- Monday to Friday
- 4:30 to 5:15 PM
- 5:30 to 6:15 PM
- 6:30 to 7:15 PM
- 7:30 to 8:15 PM
- Saturday and Sunday
- 9 to 9:45 AM
- 10 to 10:45 AM
- 11 to 11:45 AM
- noon to 12:45 PM
- 1 to 1:45 PM
- Extra Saturday time slots
- 8 to 8:45 AM
- 2 to 2:45 PM
- 3 to 3:45 PM
Members may sign up starting September 8 at 8:30 AM, by contacting the FIT Center at 631-749-0978 or fitmanager@shelterislandtown.us.
Memberships
“We will be extending memberships for six months for anyone who had an active membership at the time that we closed,” Ortmann said, but no day passes will be available during the phased reopening.
For new members, the posted annual fees are:
- Individual, $255
- Family, $395 (up to six family members)
- Volunteer EMT/Fire and Active Duty Military, $175
- Full-time resident college student, $100
- Full-time resident youth, $50
You can register for membership, and find more information at shelterisland.recdesk.com.
New rules
New rules are in place to ensure the safety of staff and patrons. Ortmann notes it will be helpful if patrons plan their workouts in advance to make the best use of their time in the facility.
“To help us keep the FIT Center open and clean please read over our reopening rules and guidelines,” she said.
- Masks are required
- You must wear a mask for the duration of the time that you are in the facility
- Those medically unable to tolerate a mask must wear a face shield at all times (a doctor’s note will need to be provided for this)
- You are temporarily permitted to remove face coverings while drinking but must stay six feet apart from other individuals
- Face coverings should be regularly cleaned or replaced if they become wet or soiled
- Maximum capacity is 5 gym members
- You must sign up for a designated time slot (45 minutes with 15 minutes between for transition and cleaning)
- You must present a confirmation email for your time slot
- You may sign up for no more than three visits per week
- New entry procedures
- Wait in your car until your allotted time
- Do not enter the facility if someone else is in the entryway
- Upon entering, you’ll be asked to complete a COVID-19 questionnaire
- Staff will take your temperature
- Cleaning
- You must thoroughly wipe down any equipment you use (or your membership may be suspended)
- FIT Center staff will wipe down equipment and frequently touched surfaces, and follow the cleaning guidelines of the NYS Department of Health pertaining to gyms and fitness centers
All rules/guidelines are subject to change, Ortmann said, but “if and when they do we will notify all members of changes.”
Questions? Contact Ortmann at the Recreation Department, 631-749-0309.
