Fox Valley opens fitness centers to NIU students

Fox Valley Park District is offering students at Northern Illinois University free use of its three fitness centers until their campus reopens.

Amy Roth, public relations manager, said several park employees have children or relatives attending NIU. She suggested letting them use the fitness centers after her daughter Heidi, a junior at the university who is home after the Thursday shootings, said she planned to go to Eola Community Center to work out Friday.

Roth thought of all the other students who might need an outlet and approached Executive Director Steve Messerli about letting them use the fitness centers.

Messerli readily agreed.

"We know it's cold outside, and we know many NIU students from the area are at home while the investigation continues into the tragic shooting that occurred in DeKalb," Messerli said in a written statement. "We would like to provide a place for these students to come inside, meet with friends and be active while they work through the aftermath of this tragedy."

Students from outside the area who are staying with friends also are welcome.

"It doesn't apply just to Fox Valley Park District residents. It's any NIU student," Roth said.

Students need only to show their university identification to gain admission to the fitness facilities at the Vaughan Athletic Center, 2121 W. Indian Trail Road; Eola Community Center, 555 S. Eola Road; or Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave. All three are in Aurora.