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Palo Alto residents need a local gym open to the public

We believe an open gym is fundamental to the Downtown ecosystem and contributes substantially to 3 of 4 City Council Priorities:

• Community Health and Safety. There is no better driver of community health than a gym.  It has long been established that people who exercise regularly have better physical fitness, mental health, emotional well-being, and lower rates of mental illness than those who do not exercise regularly.
• Climate Change.  The facility — located in the center of downtown Palo Alto — can be reached by a significant number of residents and workers by foot, bike, public transportation, and other means that do not produce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Economic Recovery.  Unlike patrons of most businesses, gym members typically visit multiple times every week.  While downtown, many gravitate toward shops and eateries to pick up necessities, meet friends for lunch, etc.

What is at stake?

• Without a local gym, local residents will be forced to drive to a gym in another city; others may forgo using a gym or stop exercising completely.
• With no gym to visit, these individuals will almost certainly spend their money elsewhere, perhaps in Menlo Park or Mountain View, depriving our local merchants of revenue and our city government of taxes.

Why Now?

• The local city-owned property has been vacant for over a year, and the City is actively looking for a new tenant. The choice of tenant will be determined at the March 11, 2024 Palo Alto City Council meeting.
• Local Resident, Donna Johnson, personal trainer at Stanford University, beloved coach at Orangetheory Palo Alto, with over 30 years experience in the fitness industry, is interested in bringing healthy back to the local residents.
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