wow... for me gyms (or sports in general) was the #1 place to meet new people, here where I live and in my bubble (germany) it's quite common to spend a few hours in the local boulder gym, or climbing gym, drinking coffee, grep a pizza boulder/climb a bit and small talk, meet friends and new people, same on the local skate park or pump track, hang around, skate, talk, and meet new people, also the sauna/pool areas of some larger gyms are quite social, same goes for the local park, watch the kids at the playground, a coffee is always nearby and plenty of people to talk... and everything in walking or biking distance (I live in a small town)