Effect Of Vax Requirement At Oak Lawn Fitness Center Unknown

OAK LAWN, IL — Oak Lawn Park District executive director Tom Hartwig says it is too soon to determine whether some residents will stop using the village’s community pavilion to exercise a day after a Cook County mandate requiring proof of vaccination went into effect.

Hartwig told Patch in an email on Tuesday that recreation center employees reported that the number of people who showed up on Monday was “less than usual”. But he said that it will likely take a few weeks to determine if a drop-off in numbers can be actually attributed to the new county mandate.

Hartwig wrote that the facility is complying with the Cook County mandate, which requires all residents — ages 5 and up — to show proof of vaccination when using businesses like fitness centers, bars and restaurants.

In a press release announcing the new requirements, the Oak Lawn Park District said that any person using the Oak Lawn Racquet, Fitness and Gymnastics Center to use exercise equipment or participate in fitness classes would need to show the proof of vaccination and a form of identification.

Anyone medically unable to receive the vaccination would be required to show proof of a medical exemption or proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours of showing up at the fitness center.

The response to the email, Hartwig said, was overly “not positive.”

“Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of people coming into our facilities (Monday) were very patient and understanding,” Hartwig wrote.

Facility staff members are checking vaccination records and proof of vaccination of residents and their visitors to the facility are recorded. Hartwig said more staff members will be added to help check vaccination status if needed.