West Chicago Park District opens doors to new fitness center

It's certainly no Bally's or XSport Fitness in terms of size or variety of equipment.

But West Chicago officials hope a shuttered hardware store in its downtown area can experience a second life as the park district's first fitness center.

The city and park district opened the doors Saturday to Fitness Station. The building located at 103 W. Washington St. houses an array of treadmills, step climbers and other cardio equipment, as well as rooms for tumbling, karate and other park district-sponsored classes and activities.

Parks Director Gary Major said he hopes the new building, which is owned by the city of West Chicago, could spark community interest in constructing a new fitness center.

The park district spent roughly four months and about $200,000 to renovate the facility. Annual memberships for the facility will cost $189, and officials said they hope to attract a membership base of up to 800 people.

Tracy Koleman, the park district's recreation coordinator and the fitness center's manager, said the new venture is primarily targeted at suburban mothers looking for youth and family-oriented programming.

"This is definitely not going to be a muscle gym," she said, a statement underscored by the dearth of freeweights and lone bench stacked in the corner of the gym.

Both park district commissioners and city council members spent the afternoon touring the facility and greeting members of the public.

"This just shows another example of how government can work together for the common cause," West Chicago Mayor Michael Kwasman said of the partnership between the city and park district. "We hope our residents can take advantage of it."