Comments on: Exercising in Houston – Boot Camp http://www.neohouston.com/2009/02/exercising-in-houston-boot-camp/ advocating urbanism in the opportunity city Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:06:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Dave Morris http://www.neohouston.com/2009/02/exercising-in-houston-boot-camp/#comment-155 Dave Morris Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:23:16 +0000 http://neohouston.wordpress.com/?p=491#comment-155 Thanks for commenting Frank. I forgot to post an update about the Hermann Park deal. It turns out they kicked us out because they wanted to collect some kind of fee, and after three months, they granted us a permit in exchange for a donation, more or less. I don't know how much money, but it sounds a little shady to me. Thanks for commenting Frank. I forgot to post an update about the Hermann Park deal. It turns out they kicked us out because they wanted to collect some kind of fee, and after three months, they granted us a permit in exchange for a donation, more or less. I don’t know how much money, but it sounds a little shady to me.

]]> By: Frank http://www.neohouston.com/2009/02/exercising-in-houston-boot-camp/#comment-154 Frank Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:33:50 +0000 http://neohouston.wordpress.com/?p=491#comment-154 Dave, great post. As you know, I did the Texas Bootcamp LLC at The Woodlands UMC, and loved it! It was a great workout, large group of folks, and with the return discount, you couldn't beat it. Its expensive to keep going compared to a gym membership, but the accountability side of it is very real. You actually feel guilty for missing when you spend that kind of money! I don't think you should have to pay a fee to use the park even if you are running it as a business. You already pay taxes to incorporate your business, and all the participants are already paying taxes, and you didn't build anything to operate out of... random thoughts, I realize, but seems like charging would be a money grab by the city, and therefore LIKELY... :) Dave, great post. As you know, I did the Texas Bootcamp LLC at The Woodlands UMC, and loved it! It was a great workout, large group of folks, and with the return discount, you couldn’t beat it. Its expensive to keep going compared to a gym membership, but the accountability side of it is very real. You actually feel guilty for missing when you spend that kind of money!

I don’t think you should have to pay a fee to use the park even if you are running it as a business. You already pay taxes to incorporate your business, and all the participants are already paying taxes, and you didn’t build anything to operate out of… random thoughts, I realize, but seems like charging would be a money grab by the city, and therefore LIKELY… :)

]]> By: Dave Morris http://www.neohouston.com/2009/02/exercising-in-houston-boot-camp/#comment-153 Dave Morris Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:48:36 +0000 http://neohouston.wordpress.com/?p=491#comment-153 That's a good point. I brought up the subject because our class at Hermann Park was actually shut down by the City for about three months, despite that fact that we were the only ones in the entire park at 5:30 in the morning, and we weren't really bothering anyone. We just started back up in early January, and my instructor told me they had to negotiate a deal to get a permit. I never really got anymore details out of him, but I will ask again tomorrow. That’s a good point. I brought up the subject because our class at Hermann Park was actually shut down by the City for about three months, despite that fact that we were the only ones in the entire park at 5:30 in the morning, and we weren’t really bothering anyone. We just started back up in early January, and my instructor told me they had to negotiate a deal to get a permit. I never really got anymore details out of him, but I will ask again tomorrow.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.neohouston.com/2009/02/exercising-in-houston-boot-camp/#comment-152 Andrew Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:35:43 +0000 http://neohouston.wordpress.com/?p=491#comment-152 Great information, Dave. Personally, I would not be in favor of any kind of fee to use the space. My reasoning is this: how are you going to enforce it? Let's say a police patrol goes by and sees people doing some kind of organized activity, exercising and whatnot. What does he do about it? Does he go hassle them and ask if they're running a class? What if it's just a group of friends who work out together? They do already have fee systems in place for the use of dedicated sports facilities in the City Parks, like the tennis courts and baseball fields at Memorial. I think that's probably enough 'management' of the parks. They function best as an open space that's free for the community to use, as long as the use doesn't interfere with other park users. People working out together at 5am certainly fits that description. Great information, Dave.

Personally, I would not be in favor of any kind of fee to use the space. My reasoning is this: how are you going to enforce it?

Let’s say a police patrol goes by and sees people doing some kind of organized activity, exercising and whatnot. What does he do about it? Does he go hassle them and ask if they’re running a class? What if it’s just a group of friends who work out together?

They do already have fee systems in place for the use of dedicated sports facilities in the City Parks, like the tennis courts and baseball fields at Memorial.

I think that’s probably enough ‘management’ of the parks. They function best as an open space that’s free for the community to use, as long as the use doesn’t interfere with other park users. People working out together at 5am certainly fits that description.

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