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City report finds underused gym hours, proposes reallocation to increase rentals
Summary
Parks staff presented a gym usage analysis showing substantial vacant hours and changing demand across Iron Horse and Pine (Valley) gyms. Staff said reallocation and new contracting approaches increased rentable hours and bookings; commissioners raised concerns about pickleball demand and how waiting players are measured.
Parks and Community Services staff presented a facility usage analysis for the city’s gymnasiums on Feb. 12, reporting a substantial number of underused rentable hours and steps the department is taking to increase utilization.
Recreation Supervisor Jennifer Golod told the commission the analysis reviewed site capacity, observed demand by sport and age group, and found weekday evenings (roughly 5–9 p.m.) are the busiest stretch while many other programmed hours remain vacant. Golod said staff changed contracting and allocation practices — including shifting a long‑running contract league to an up‑front rental model — and that change produced more immediately available hours for other rentals.
Why it matters: the city’s gyms host youth and adult sports, community programs and private rentals; better matching available time slots to demand can increase community access and rental revenue while controlling staffing costs.
Key findings and staffing response: Golod said staff analyzed roughly 18,975 programming hours and identified time blocks that were consistently unused during the typical programming window (4–10 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m.–10 p.m. weekends). She said a reallocation of space previously held by a contract youth basketball league allowed the city to rent more hours to other users and that the department rented an additional several thousand hours from July–December 2024 compared with the prior year.
Facilities and use by sport: The Iron Horse Gym accommodates the widest range of sports (basketball, volleyball, futsal, badminton) and has three courts when divided; Pine (Valley) Gym has two courts and is used more by younger age groups. Staff noted Iron Horse’s larger courts and recent floor upgrades make it preferable for larger tournaments and adult leagues.
Rates, booking and equipment: Recreation staff said the standard rental rate is $69 per hour for San Ramon residents and $87 per hour for nonresidents, with a two‑hour minimum and separate fees or arrangements for equipment. Commissioners asked whether rental rates include equipment; staff said basic facility rental does not automatically include balls or specialized equipment and renters generally bring their own gear or arrange equipment as an add‑on.
Pickleball and wait‑time concerns: Several commissioners and community members raised concerns that moving seasonal pickleball outdoors would create long waiting lines and reduce access. Vice Chair Breed and others asked whether the department records the number of people waiting to play; staff replied the analysis uses average attendance and game turnover to estimate wait times but does not count waiting players head‑by‑head. Commissioners urged staff to measure waiting lines and consider court allocation or temporary rate/packaging changes for underused hours.
Next steps: Staff said the department will continue to refine allocation strategies, look at installing additional line markings and equipment at Pine (Valley) when that floor is refurbished, and track operating indicators annually to inform programming and the next fee resolution. No commission vote accompanied the presentation; staff requested feedback and will report outcomes in future budget and CIP planning.
