The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
A fast track for cardio
Saline Recreation Center adds new equipment for members
By Sue G. Collins, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: August 21, 2008
Completing an updated and competitive collection of cardio vascular training equipment at the Saline Recreation Center has been a dream for Parks and Recreation Director Carla Scruggs.
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Showing off the bright room upstairs, her eyes light up counting the 10 treadmills, five new Precor elliptical machines, four recumbent bikes, 14 Nautilus weight stations, and 19 spinning bikes, five which are new.
And that's not including the room full of free weights in the training room down the hall where men and women pump iron.
Since the recreation center reopened last year after an extensive $1.5 renovation, Scruggs has made it a priority to fill the cardio room with the equipment members and visitors use most while keeping costs down.
Three-quarters of the Nautilus equipment was funded by a grant from the Cultural, Arts, Recreation, Enrichment and Senior Citizens, or CARES, millage, the recreation tax Saline residents will vote on whether to renew in 2010.
A CARES grants also nearly covered the purchase of the new televisions in the weight room, and a quarter of the bill for the new cardio equipment was picked up by CARES grant funds, thanks to Scruggs and her staff's efforts to seek alternative budget solutions.
Why all the fitness fuss?
"We don't want people to have to wait to get on a machine," Scruggs said.
Scruggs earned a trade-in credit on old equipment when she purchased the new treadmills and bikes. She refurbished a few older pieces that are important for handicapped people and folks transitioning from physical therapy.
One ADA-accessible Scifit machine gives options to a person in a wheelchair for an upper body workout, and is often used by people recovering from shoulder surgery.
Another older, but useful machine will be familiar to those building strength after knee surgery.
"A few of these pieces might not be brand new, but we have members and visitors who feel comfortable using them because they have been exercising on the machines regularly or have used them in PT (physical therapy)," Scruggs said.
Still, the banks of modern equipment and three flat screen televisions flashing news, sports and talk shows should appeal to even the hippest fitness fanatic.
"Precor is one of the best names in fitness equipment," Scruggs said.
And the membership rates are among the lowest in town at $45 a month for an individual resident or $215 for an annual membership. Family memberships, for residents are $90 a month or $415 a year, with no joining fee.
At Snap Fitness in Saline, an individual membership is $34.95 a month and $419.90 for a 12-month pass for one person.
Rates at the Powerhouse Gym are $44 a month with a $99 processing fee, though the gym is running an August special for $29 a month with a $29 one-time fee.
There are also four personal trainers at the Saline Recreation Center to help hone individualized workouts and better familiarize people with the equipment to meet fitness goals. The rate for members is $45 an hour or $70 for a couple, and $30 per person for a group. Non-member rates are slightly higher.
The Saline Recreation Center is located at 1866 Woodland Drive and is open daily. More information is available at www.city-saline.org/parks or by calling 429-3502. Classes are ongoing and the center's facilities are available for a daily rate of $8 or $5 for kids younger than 12 and senior citizens. Children younger than 3 are admitted for free.
Staff Writer Sue G. Collins can be reached at 429-7380 or scollins@heritage.com.
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