Newmarket residents are enjoying a new place to pump up their workouts with the opening of the municipal fitness centre at Ray Twinney Recreation Complex.
The Town of Newmarket celebrated the opening of the new facility March 25, though the centre has operated for the past week. Town officials and residents joined together to mark the occasion and get a look at the new facility.
Resident Joseph Daniel said he is glad they did something better with the facility space and is taking advantage of it being closer to home than the Magna Centre fitness facility.
“They turned it into something that can repopulate the area now,” he said. “It’s pretty nice … I like the newer feel of the equipment.”
The project has been in the works since last June, with an estimated project cost of $135,000. Staff said they could reuse some equipment and make better use of the space while providing an in-demand facility. Staff expects to sell enough memberships to more than make up for the cost of the facility.
Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said the new fitness centre will serve many people.
“We’re looking for opportunities all the time to provide more services and better services and really just more opportunities to be healthy and active,” Taylor said. “This is going to provide, really, another great amenity in this part of town.”
Nikita Cravchenko said he wanted to use the facility to get fit and because it is close to home. He said the equipment is in good condition.
“It’s overall a good gym. If you want to come here, it’s great. There’s not that many people here at a time,” he said, adding that membership costs are "not that high compared to other gyms.”
Director of recreation and culture Colin Service said it was exciting to transform the space into something that can be used in a variety of ways.
Compared to the Magna Centre facility, Service said “they’re very similar in terms of the amount of equipment and what equipment is available.”
That equipment includes treadmills, upright bikes, virtual training cycles and rowers. There are also free weights and strength equipment. More equipment is coming, such as an upper body ergometer and a massage chair.
“It’s been very well used, and people are really enjoying this space, which is great to see,” Service said.
You can find more information at newmarket.ca/fitness.
The town recreation pass is available for a monthly adult fee of $37.50, $27.50 for youth and children, or $62.50 for a household.
