By Jaclyn Hicken
After a $1 million renovation, the Orem Fitness Center is once again open for business.
The newly remodeled fitness center is a city treasure and a solution to the growing obesity and health crisis, according to Orem City''s recreation director.
'Why are we in the recreation business?' asked Karl Hirst, recreation director, at the facility''s grand re-opening in October. 'I challenge you to watch TV without seeing a story about the national health care crisis, or the obesity epidemic. The answer to these problems is not on TV or in Washington; it''s in this building.'
The fitness center, originally opened in 1979, was recently remodeled using a, $1 million donation. The center now boasts an expanded cardio room, a spacious new entryway, office space, new cardio equipment and a steam room. 'It''s the only facility like it in the county,' Hirst said. 'It''s pretty popular; people line up.'
Throughout the construction, the donor remained anonymous. However, prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the donors were identified as Tye and Ray Noorda, citizens of Orem.
Ray, a former CEO and president of Novell, Inc., died on Oct. 9, and the donation was announced in his memory. Both he and his wife have a long history of philanthropic work.
'She and her husband didn''t want any fanfare. They''re so private,' Orem Mayor Jerry Washburn said. 'She''s a very private person and doesn''t want a lot of credit, but she has great pride in this idea. are generous in the truest sense of the word.'
The center''s remodel of the center was finished on Sept. 5 and the ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Oct. 19. Miss Orem, Ashley Boulter, served as the official ribbon-cutter. Members of the Recreations Citizens Advisory Committee, responsible for building the original facility in the ''70s, were also present.
The fitness center offers a variety of weekly classes, as well as open time for general workouts. The center also contains a full-service pool facility, a gym, a basement six-lap-mile track, a weight room, a licensed child-care center for parents who want to use the facility, 12 racquetball courts, two wallyball courts and an indoor firing range with guns and eye/ear protection that can be rented at the facility.
'Boy scouts hunter education people use it,' said Lissy Sander, facilities manager. 'Retired police officers run it. It''s a very, very safe environment, not a free-for-all.'
Residents of Orem can obtain a fitness center annual family pass for $330 and an individual pass for $193. The student rate is $171 annually. The fitness center is also open for use by non-Orem residents. Students living in Provo can also use the facility for $215 annually, $121 semi-annually, and $33 monthly. The fitness center is open until 10 p.m. on weekdays and closes at 7 p.m. on Saturdays.
'We see about 1,000 people a day come through the center,' Hirst said. 'The outdoor pool had its best day ever this summer with 3,000 people in a day. It really gets used for being 30 years old. We''ve enjoyed it for a long, long time.'