May 2, 2008
Q: I recently started using the facilities at Purdy Gym, specifically the morning lap swim. Purdy Gym is a great place that meets the entire fleet’s fitness needs. The problem is the hours of operation do not seem to accommodate the Sailors and Marines who use this facility. Whenever I go swimming in the morning, at 5:30 a.m., when they open, I have to cut quite a few things out of my morning routine in order to make it to work on time. Also, every morning there is a line of people waiting for the doors to open. Is it possible to get Purdy Gym to open just 30 minutes earlier to accommodate all the personnel who use this facility?

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A: Thank you for your comments. The Fleet Fitness Center is open 24 hours a day every day of the year. For individuals interested in very early or very late workouts we encourage you to use the excellent facilities at the Fleet Fitness Center. We acknowledge that Purdy Gym is a desirable facility for many to use for their morning workout, in this time of shrinking financial resources it is not prudent to have two facilities open during the early morning period for a relatively limited user base that can be accommodated by one fitness center. Prior to opening Purdy Gym several years ago it was determined based on usage that we would keep the Fleet Fitness Center open for the extended period, to accommodate the early and late users, due to it’s close proximity to the piers and to the Sailors who work and live on the waterfront. As a reminder, Purdy Fitness Center is open daily (except holidays) until 2200 for those who prefer that facility for their workout but find the morning hours limiting. For fitness swimmers, the Purdy Natatorium is open almost continuously from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., allowing the opportunity to get in a workout before work or school, during the workday, at lunch, or after work or school. Thank you again for your feedback.

That is simply not true. I have tried to use the gym in accordance with this post 2x for the pool (the only actual training pool on base) only to be told the pool closes at 8 a.m. daily. It is incredibly inconvenient to use the pool which should be easier to use for those of us who the gym was built for...the sailors.

I don't know about Purdy Gym, but I hear a lot of, "Well before the earthquake we were open from [time] to [time] but then we went to limited hours and never changed back." Probably due to a lack of returning staff, I would imagine.

Purdy Gym closes earlier than the original post states on the weekends as well. Frustrating when I want to get an evening work out in on Sunday or Saturday after all of the children and camp classes have concluded for the day.

I think most things are back to normal now, though.......I think...