Newly renovated fitness center is open

***image1***With the reopening of the 435th Southside Fitness Center January 14, KMC members have one more option for exercise locations. For the past 11 months, the facility served as the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
As CASF operations wound down, fitness center reopening plans surfaced and a blueprint was underway for fitness center improvements. Fitness center staff members and base civil engineers worked long, hard hours to make these improvements a reality and prepare the facility for reopening.
Southside exercisers are enjoying these changes, such as an “expanded weight room with new rubberized plates and dumbbells, a new floor in the cardio room, new mirrors throughout the free weight and machine rooms and a new towel distribution rack in the lobby,” explained Charlie Glover, Southside Fitness Center Operations Manager.
With the reopening of the Southside Fitness Center, KMC basketball players now have a second gym, in addition to Vogelweh Fitness Center, for pick-up games, whether it is during a lunch break or for a little after-work stress relief. Volleyball players also enjoy pick-up games on Sunday afternoons.
One major innovation at the fitness center is the new Children’s Play Area. “This area originated as a customer suggestion; wing leadership agreed with the idea and the rest is history,” explained Glover. This new room is an asset to parents of children ages 0-6. It’s a place where parents can work out on one of eight cardio machines and two strength training machines while their child(ren) play in the same room. This play area includes mats, toys, books and more for children to occupy themselves during their parent’s workout session. “There is no other place like this in the KMC,” stated Steve Selvey, Fitness Centers Director.
Barbara Gallina, 86th Maintenance Squadron, parent of four-year-old Cameron, utilized the facility soon after it opened and told all her coworkers about the room. She thinks the Children’s Play Area is a great idea, “I hope people use it. When I discovered the play area and workout room, I told everyone at work,” stated Gallina.
Parents, not fitness center staff, are responsible for watching their children; parent and child(ren) must remain in the room together at all times. The Children’s Play Area gives parents more flexibility with their workout schedules. “I usually work out at lunch, while Cameron is in the CDC, but this new room gives me the opportunity to work out on weekends as well,” added Gallina.
Try out the 435th Services Southside Fitness Center if you haven’t already and check out the new additions in place to better serve the community. The Southside Fitness Center hours are 5 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays (including Family and Goal Days).