The cost of staying dry may be higher than you think.
In just three days, on Feb. 10, the Park City Racquet Club will stop its towel service. No more hand towels for mopping sweat from the brow and no more bath towels to save work-time workouters that extra trip home for a shower or the hassle of slogging around a wet towel all day.
“I came back after Sundance and was surprised,” said patron Mark Rabinowitz. “I’m probably not going to shower here anymore. I’ll just go home. It was the convenience of it. There’s only a couple of things I use here.”
It’s not the best of situations, but it was a decision that Park City Recreation was forced to make. Park City Municipal told all its departments they had to cut their budgets by two percent this year and, rather than cut a program or a person, Recreation Director Ken Fisher went for a more benign solution.
“We’re looking at cutting where it doesn’t impact services,” Fisher said.
In a given year, towel service from Salt Lake City-based Model Linen costs around $20,000. That’s the cost to deliver and pick them up, launder them and recoup losses for towels that never make it into the dirty pile.
“That’s quite a bit of money. I can understand why,” said patron Scarlett Steakly, a Texas native who has been in Park City for the past few months with the Sundance Film Festival. “I’d rather cut towels than cut programs. To me that’s more important.”
Fisher points out that not having towels at the Racquet Club isn’t so unique. Many public recreation centers don’t offer towel service. In fact none of the other ones in the area Basin Recreation, Park City Aquatic Center, the Park City Ice Arena or Summit County Aquatic and Fitness Center offer free towels.
Fisher considered offering towel service to patrons for an extra charge, but decided it would be an easier transition to just eliminate it altogether.
For the most part, the response has been positive. Fisher has received numerous e-mails of people who support his decision.
“People certainly understand that, given the state of the economy,” Fisher said. “We’re no different.”
But for others, the reaction is mixed.
“I think it will upset people,” said front desk worker Cassie White. “Towels are a big deal. It will be a hassle.”
She said that she empties the soiled towel bin at least three times during her daily five-hour shift.
Some fear that this is just the tip if the iceberg and that things like water fountains and equipment will be the next to go. Others are just plain frustrated because they see it as part of their fees and only come to the club for a quick workout and a shower with a provided towel.
“Its not like it’s free and it doesn’t cost that much,” said Jannet Vogt, another patron who splits her time between Park City and Texas. “I don’t know what program they’d have cut [instead] because people pay for those. We only use the fitness center. This hits us.”
The Racquet Club won’t be totally towel free. The front desk will sell hand and bath towels for a nominal fee and, of course, people can bring their own from home. One patron has made the decision to adapt his towel service use by taking the free ones his condo provides to the gym with him every day.
Fisher said more budget cuts could come down the pipeline this year, but he’s not sure how much or what might get eliminated next. He said he hopes to maintain as many programs and services as possible. There are already a few less water coolers, adjustments to holiday fitness schedules and the employees’ gourmet coffee maker is going away in favor of the far-cheaper coffee pot next week. The Park City Racquet Club was also scheduled to be renovated this coming year, but a mix of tough financial times and some changes in the design will likely push that project until next year.