Hours Could Change at Bagwell Gym

Easley could see significant savings by shortening hours at the Larry D. Bagwell Gym, a recent study compiled by the Easley Parks and Recreation Committee shows.

The data collected by the staff at Bagwell Gym tracks the number of people using the gym throughout the day. The data also reflected the number of gym users who live in the city of Easley and the number who live outside city limits.

"On Monday morning from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., of the 19 walkers, 57 percent are city residents and 43 percent are out of the city," City Administrator Jonathan "Fox" Simons said.

The city currently does not charge people who visit the gym to use the indoor track, but does charge a one-time fee for people who live outside of Easley to use the volleyball and basketball courts. 

"We started this counting in the middle of February and this goes through the end of July so we have a very large sample," Simons said.

The study also includes payroll information for the city's employees who work at the gym and parks during the hours of operation. Because the gym and parks are free for the most part, the money needed to operate them must come from city revenue rather than membership fees.

"We're there at six o'clock in the morning to open up and close it down at nine o'clock," Simons said.

Over the 52 weeks of operation each year, the city spends $87,500 to maintain the gym and parks, according to the report. Park Rangers, front desk employees, maintenance staff and other expenses are included in that figure each year.

The committee is recommending a change in the hours that the gym opens from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. The closing time would remain at 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 6 p.m. on Fridays. On Saturday the opening time would go from 6 a.m. to noon.

"On Saturday morning and Saturday evening we are getting very little use- seven people on average on Saturday evenings," Simons said.

City Councilman Chris Mann suggested reaching out to the individuals who use the gym regularly in the mornings to find a compromise.

"I would want to involve them in the process in some way," Mann said.

Councilman Brian Garrison agreed that involving the gym's users would lessen the shock of a change in hours.

"You would lessen the blow and maybe put off a confrontational phone call," Garrison said.

Another suggestion to maintain the gym's current hours was to begin charging non-residents a monthly fee of $25 to use the gym or to charge out-of-town users.

"My opinion is that 7:30 is a little late," Councilwoman Kim Valentin said. "I would rather see 7 a.m."

The committee has not made a recommendation to officially change the hours at this point and will continue to consider the city's options.