Muscle Pumping

by Jeff Saunders | Reporter

Macedonia — The Macedonia Family Recreation Center has updated some of its exercise equipment after going through a budget drought of several years.

City Council approved the payment of a little over $32,000 for the equipment Aug. 23.

“These are all replacements,” said Parks and Recreation Director Angela Gmerek Sept. 7. “It’s already been purchased, delivered and is in place.”

The equipment, which cost nearly $30,000 plus about $2,500 for delivery, includes three treadmills, two recumbent bikes, a stepmill, two flat flash inclined benches for weight lifting, two large sets of dumbbells and an octane machine, which Gmerek described as a seated elliptical.

Gmerek said that from 2000, when the Rec Center opened, until 2008, such purchases to replace the heavily used equipment was routine.

“It used to be that every year, we would have funds allocated for equipment purchases,” she said. “But with budget restrictions, that was removed.”

Council approved $12,000 to purchase two treadmills in 2009, said Gmerek, but nothing the next two years.

Gmerek said that the Rec Center still has equipment original to the building, some of which is still operational, while others are used as a source of difficult-to-find parts.

The need for new equipment is especially felt, she said, on fall and winter mornings, which are typically the busiest times for exercisers.

“You could see last year, there were people waiting in line because we didn’t have enough equipment,” said Gmerek.

She said there are a couple of positives, however, including the quality of the “commercial grade” equipment.

“They are built to endure, to take more abuse than what you would have in your home,” she said.

“I think we have a pretty good preventive maintenance program and that helps,” Gmerek added.

E-mail: jsaunders@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-541-9432