New Fitness Center to open Sept. 5

  • Published
  • By Rhonda Siciliano
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  After much anticipation, the newly constructed Hanscom Fitness Center will open its doors to patrons Sept. 5 at 10 a.m. during a grand opening celebration that will feature a number of demonstrations and events to acclimate customers to the new amenities featured in the facility.

"We welcome members of the Hanscom community to join us for the grand opening of their fitness center," said Col. Tom Schluckebier, 66th Air Base Wing commander. "Keeping our Airmen healthy and physically fit is a priority; this new center will greatly enhance our ability to ensure our customers' fitness needs are met."

In preparation for the grand opening, the alternate fitness center will close its doors at 6 p.m. on Aug. 31. There will be no fitness facilities available to the Hanscom community until the new center opens on Sept. 5. "By making the move to the new Fitness Center during what will be a four-day Labor Day weekend for many Hanscom personnel, we are able to capitalize on what has traditionally been a very low customer demand timeframe," Colonel Schluckebier said.

"We have made every effort to limit the disruptions to our customers," said Teresa Hathaway, 66th Services Squadron Combat Support Flight chief. "Once the new center opens there may still be some minor work that needs to be completed but we are not expecting that work to have a major impact on our operations."

The new facility will be 50,000 square feet, which is more than double the size of the old building. Inside patrons will find a running track, steam rooms, saunas, three aerobic rooms, a family/child workout room, an NCAA-size basketball court, a multipurpose gymnasium, three racquetball courts, stretching areas, massage room, larger locker rooms with male and female distinguished visitor locker rooms and a climbing wall.

"During our grand opening we will also be celebrating the Air Force's 60th anniversary with a historical display that chronicles the PT standards that have kept our Airmen in shape over the years," Ms. Hathaway said.

A bonus for fitness center patrons hungry from their workout will be "Grab-and-Go" items from the Bowling Center available at the fitness desk. Or take advantage of the enclosed walkway leading to the bowling center for a more leisurely meal from the 13th Frame Diner menu.

For more information on the fitness center, contact Jerry Turnbow at (781) 377-7150 or Terry Hathaway at (781) 377-2798.