With upcoming 24-hour access, Peterson AFB Fitness & Sports Center lets you keep fit on your schedule

Published April 19, 2017
By Shellie-Anne Espinosa
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The Peterson Air Force Base Fitness & Sports Center is undergoing some major changes through May. The improvement project is scheduled to be completed May 19, 2017.

With these improvements, a portion of the gym will be converted to 24-hour access.

“It’s an Air Force-wide implementation for all the fitness centers,” said Master Sgt. Kelly Gordon, 21st Force Support Squadron Fitness & Sports Center section chief. “For most bases, it will be their annexes that go 24-hour, but since we don’t have an annex on Peterson AFB, this was the option.”

Kevin Selleny, the project manager with the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, said along with 24-hour access, the fitness center is getting upgrades to its lighting, sprinkler system, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The Summit Room is also undergoing renovations.

The Summit Room is utilized for classes such as Functional Fitness and high intensity training. The room had originally been used as two racquetball courts with a wall that ran down its center, effectively cutting the room in two. The wall has now been knocked down to double the size of the room and allow both sides of the fitness racks to be used simultaneously.

“We were limited to space before,” Gordon said. “By opening this up, we can offer customers a lot more functional fitness type workouts. The intent is to get more people to participate in the functional fitness classes that we offer.”

When the fitness center opens up to 24-hour operation, Team Pete members will have access to the Peak View room, racquetball courts and adjacent locker rooms only. The rest of the fitness center can only be accessed during normal operational hours.

“That’s because of safety and cost,” said Gordon. “Safety is very important and certain areas of the gym require supervision because of this.”

The Peak View room will contain cardio equipment and a multi-jungle for endurance training allowing members to exercise on the schedule their personal and professional lives allow for.

To have 24-hour access, Team Pete members will need to register with the fitness center and receive a card specifically to be scanned after hours. Registration for the card will begin when the gym becomes 24-hour operational. Gordon said this would be in June or July. Anyone who can currently can use the fitness center will be able to use it after hours once registered.

In addition to the rooms being remodeled, the HVAC system is getting an upgrade. It is almost completely installed, with the exception of Gym 2, which will be completed in the near future. The gyms and the fitness center, itself, will begin to benefit from this new install mid-June when systems will be turned on for the summer.

Another change to the fitness center, is a new juice bar. Team Pete members can now enjoy juice and smoothies before and after workouts.

The construction projects are scheduled to be done in the middle of May and the changes to the facility will be rolled out through the summer. With 24-hour access, cooler air, and more workout room, the Peterson AFB Fitness & Sports Center will give Team Pete a reason to work out any time of the day.