Our numbers are as such that we have moved forward allowing owner-members a little more freedom when it comes to utilizing facilities,” Mr. Schwind said. “We are not out of the woods and we will have to see where we go after the holiday when the new numbers come out.”

RCSCW General Manager Bill Schwind

The Rec Center Show on 103.1 KSCW with host Gary Cohen continues to provide the community of Sun City West with factual information from Recreation Centers of Sun City West, 19803 N. R.H. Johnson Blvd. officials during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the Sept. 8 show, RCSCW General Manager Bill Schwind and RCSCW Senior Facility Supervisor David Bennett provided the most recent information to Sun City West.

“Our numbers are as such that we have moved forward allowing owner-members a little more freedom when it comes to utilizing facilities,” Mr. Schwind said. “We are not out of the woods and we will have to see where we go after the holiday when the new numbers come out.”

With both Palm Ridge, 13800 Deer Valley Road, and R.H. Johnson Fitness Centers, 19803 N. R.H.Johnson Blvd. opened Aug. 31 and Sept. 3. RCSCW officials moved to a reservation system to use the facilities, due to capacity restraints set by the Arizona Department of Health Services, 150 N. 18th Ave.

According to Mr. Bennett, 100 people a day is the allowance for the facilities and that is being filled.

“Right now the way we have it is a paper sign up at the facility on clip boards which allow you to sign up for two things,” he explained. “One being an hour time slot and a secondary slot for cardio. We have sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer available and during the half-hour breaks we are using the electrostatic disinfectant gun to sanitize the area.”

RCSCW officials are currently doing a close analysis on the locker rooms and debating where the association wants to go heading forward, according to Mr. Barrett.

Mr. Schwind said when the benchmarks and targets are met, which he hopes will happen within the next week or two, the association hopes to get away from temperature checks at the door and the requirements put in place for staff, which will free up staff and possibly be able to open other facilities. Adding, guests will not be allowed until the association receives a full opening from the state.

Questions have come up regarding when the remaining chartered clubs will be able to open such as card and social clubs, but Mr. Schwind said clubs that meet in a confined space are a different animal and an area of concern for safety due to shared space.

Mr. Schwind said as far as the area of golf, the association is looking at doing more things and going to a crossover program.

“The sharing of carts, we will leave that up to folks and personal responsibility have to be taken into consideration,” he explained. “Most people that golf our courses are local and for people to show up and golf after driving across the valley with the same person in the car and then getting to our course and we mandate they have to ride in separate carts. If they want to ride in a single cart we can provide that option.”

He also added the association is looking at various things after the numbers came back following the holiday to see if there is a big spike and cause for concern, but said Sept. 14 is a time-frame in mind to possible open up a little more to users and owners.

Mr. Bennett said he and staff are looking at what it would be like to potentially reopen a facility.

“Honestly with fitness rooms full now it might not be bad to be able to reopen another facility,” he said.

Reporter Jennifer Jimenez can be reached at jjimenez@newszap.com or follow her on Twitter @SCW_Independent.