Residents urge Council to preserve Twisters gymnastics as $4M fitness improvement looms

Residents packed the June 9 public hearing to press the City Council to preserve the Fitness Center's Twisters gymnastics program and the gymnasium space it uses as the Council considers FY2027 facility improvements that include an estimated $4 million allocation.

"He suggested that the $4 million allocated for Fitness Center improvements be redirected toward planning or constructing a new fitness center rather than renovating the existing 33-year-old facility," said Joseph Call, who told the Council the community survey and Parks and Recreation Committee favor a new facility and that he would support a bond to fund it. Multiple parents, long-time staff and program leaders warned that repurposing the gymnasium would displace gymnastics, tumbling, preschool and other youth programs that serve hundreds of children and generate revenue for the city. "These programs require specialized equipment and space that cannot be relocated," Rita Law told the Council, urging transparency in planning.

Michelle Anderson, a Fitness Center daycare employee for nearly 20 years, described the programs' role for families and said changes could reduce or eliminate offerings parents rely on. Alina DeGroff, a gymnastics judge and family member of a former athlete, praised the Twisters program's competitive success and inclusivity and said removing dedicated space would harm its ability to compete regionally.

Mayor Frost noted for the record that 31 attendees raised their hands in support of preserving the gymnastics program. Council members did not take immediate action on the Fitness Center allocation during the meeting; the program and its funding implications remain part of the FY2027 budget deliberations and the broader interim budget process.