Forks Township Hopes to Get Fitness Center Back in Shape

Forks Township is hoping the purchase of new fitness center equipment will help to revive dwindling membership numbers at the facility.

Last week, township finance manager Jim Farley told supervisors that the township parks and recreation department recommends replacing equipment in the entire gym.

Supervisors approved 4-1 the purchase of 14 pieces of fitness center equipment, including treadmills and elliptical machines. Voting against the purchase was Supervisor Erik Chuss, saying he would rather see a study performed first to determine if membership numbers would increase with new equipment. Additional membership would help offset the costs of the purchase.

The fitness center, which is inside the township community center, has a total of 15 pieces of cardio equipment, according to Farley. That equipment is more than 10 years old, however. Finding replacement parts for treadmills and elliptical machines is becoming increasingly difficult, he added. Plus, members have complained about broken equipment.

“I think we have lost some folks because of that,” said Farley.

Currently membership figures are at 66, according to parks and recreation director Rachel Sulzbach. There were more than 200 members in 2006. But with broken equipment and competing gyms in the area offering more for either less or the same cost, membership numbers have declined in recent years, township officials said.

A membership at the fitness center is $60 per quarter, $45 for seniors and students.

A total of 14 pieces of equipment will be purchased for $41,610. The township will also receive a credit of $3,200 for trading in the old equipment. The weight equipment currently at the gym will remain. According to Farley, as assessment by the township maintenance staff says that the equipment is in fair condition. One-third of the funds will come from this year’s recreation budget. The remaining funds would be included in the recreation budgets over the next two years.