PLANTATION, Fla. – Fitness 1440 on West Broward Boulevard in Plantation was one of the many gyms in Broward County that could finally reopen their doors Tuesday.
Members were spreading out, and some machines were cordoned off to ensure people could remain a safe distance apart.
The gyms can operate at up to 50 percent capacity in this phase of reopening.
“For a facility of this size, 50% works for us for the current moment,” said Mike Carnevale, who owns Fitness 1440, a 24-hour gym. “Whatever guidelines they want us to adhere to, I’m just blessed to have the opportunity to open our doors again. It’s been a long journey, and I think the people of Broward County are ready for this. I think they’re ready to get back to fitness.”
The equipment at gyms must be spaced apart to allow for at least 10 feet of distancing, and patrons are required to sanitize each machine after use. Equipment must then be allowed to fully dry.
In addition, all commercial gyms must be equipped with enough hand sanitizer. The county’s safety guidelines require gym patrons to cover their faces except when they are working out and cooling down. And members and employees will be denied entry if their temperature is above 100.4 degrees.
Michelle Brown of CrossFit Vice in Coral Springs was also ecstatic to be open after lobbying along with other gym owners to reopen.
“We were ready to go. We are ready go,” she said. “All of us want to keep our members safe, so you can guarantee that we take if very seriously.”
Gym owners say the next 90 days will be crucial to see if they’ll be able to save their businesses.
“We can only control what we can control, and we are gonna do our best to make sure our members stay safe,” Carnevale said.
Read Broward County’s full order with rules and restrictions for gyms, beaches and hotels: