Protest Saturday Against Closure of Palos Health and Fitness Center

Heads up, residents. Protestors will march Saturday against the closure of Palos Health and Fitness Center.

Palos police advise that protestors will march along 80th Avenue, beginning at 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Drivers might want to use 86th or Harlem avenues as an alternative.

Opposition has been growing against the hospital's current plans to close Palos Health and Fitness Center, as members attempt to protect the facility and the services it provides. Members of the fitness center at 153rd Street and West Avenue were recently notified that the facility would shut down May 1. The facility, which is run by Palos Community Hospital, was set for demolition to make space for a $133 million hospital office building.

Members will meet at 11 a.m. at the Palos Park Metra station parking lot, just west of the hospital 12251 S. 80th Ave. They will park on the North end of station off 121st. St., according to an alert from police. The event will take place until 2 p.m. across from the hospital, along 80th Avenue between 121st and 123rd streets. Additional police staff will be on hand to answer questions for motorist and assistance with traffic flow in the area.

“This facility provides unique services that many in the community utilize to leading a healthy lifestyle,” said Senator Bill Cunningham (18th District), in a letter to an official at Palos Community Hospital. “I respectfully ask that Palos Community Hospital reconsider their decision or find a way to continue to provide this excellent service to their community.”

Cunningham said the facility offers many opportunities for residents to continue on a path to recovery from an illness or injury. It also allows many to be able to continue on a path to living a healthy lifestyle by offering many services including medical programs and nutrition training.

Proposed plans call for a four-story, 107,760-square-foot medical office building with offices, diagnostic and treatment space for medical specialties. A 16,000-square-foot, three-story building connection will join two existing office buildings and the new medical facility, Daily Southtown reported. Also proposed is a 125,000-square-foot below-grade parking garage, and other site improvements.

Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady has also implored the hospital board to stop its plans to close the center, calling it, "a state of the art facility in superb condition, fulfilling an important need in this community, not a building in deteriorating condition and in need of a major investment.

"Appreciating the importance of this fitness center to all of the people who depend on it, as is clear from the widespread public opposition to closure, is there room to work creatively with your architect and contractor on a revised design to preserve the center—perhaps by building around or above it?"