New year brings new fitness options

MAT-SU — As 2007 makes way for a new year, two local businesses are gearing up to help Valley residents fulfill healthy living resolutions in 2008.

The new AT&T Sports Center is almost ready for opening day, while Peak Fitness is expanding its original location to provide a new and improved facility.

Located along the Palmer-Wasilla Highway at 1507 N. Double B St., AT&T Sports Center is scheduled to open Saturday. Construction crews are working diligently to take care of the last details on the 60,600-square-foot athletic facility, said Bill Hawkins, general manager of the facility. With four days left, crews are unpacking and assembling fitness equipment and placing the last pieces of the basketball court puzzle.

“It’s really exciting,” Hawkins said. “We’ve had a huge demand and a lot of interest.”

The center will offer a variety of fitness-oriented opportunities, including basketball, a fitness club, running track and exercise studio, Hawkins said. Five basketball courts are available for local sports leagues and fitness club members. Not only are courts basketball ready, but they can be used for an array of other activities like volleyball and badminton. There’s also talk of using the courts for a future dodgeball league.

The fitness club will operate on a membership basis with a few membership options, Hawkins said. An initial enrollment fee of $120 is required, then fitness buffs or newbies can choose from three monthly memberships; a single person membership ($60), a couple’s membership ($75) or a family membership ($90).

A membership to the club provides access to an assortment of fitness equipment and programs, the general manager said. For those looking to build or tone muscle, the center’s weight room is a good start. This part of the facility will include Nautilus weight machines and free weights.

If a cardiovascular workout is what your heart longs for, the sports center also has a cardio room. Members can test their endurance on a number of heart pumping machines, including ellipticals, tread climbers, Stairmasters and computerized Expresso fitness bikes.

Members will also have access to a group exercise room, Hawkins said. Jazzercise programs are scheduled and other activities like karate and dance are expected to come online later. In addition to fitness, the sports also has a conference room available free of charge for community groups.

“It’s quite the facility, and it’s community based,” he said.

Although the sports center will house a number of activities, the main reason for building it is to provide a place for youth sports leagues, said Scott Johannes, owner of Double B LLC, the firm building the center.

After making repeated trips into Anchorage for his children’s sporting events, Johannes said he decided to begin working on a plan that would help kids keep playing ball in the Valley.

“Knowing there was a need in the community was the biggest thing,” Johannes said.

A few miles down the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, Peak Fitness is expanding its facility to better serve a growing customer base, said Ann Riggs who, along with her husband, George, owns the gym. Originally opened in 2003, Peak Fitness offers all the amenities of a full-service facility, including strength training, group exercise and cycling. In addition to traditional fitness equipment, the facility offers two racquetball courts, massage therapy and tanning.

Although Peak has all the bells and whistles often available at national chain fitness clubs, Riggs said her business offers a fitness experience not commonly found elsewhere.

“It’s a very nice atmosphere to workout in,” Riggs said. “It doesn’t have a corporate feeling. It has a friendly feeling.”

The expansion includes 15,000 square feet of new space and will provide additional room for an array of fitness activity and other businesses, she said.

On the fitness side, members will enjoy an expanded weight room, cardio area and cycling area, she said.

Despite having some new completion from AT&T Sports Center, Riggs said she’s confident her business will continue to do well.

“I think I’ll be fine no matter what,” she said. “We’ve been here a while and hopefully our reputation speaks for itself.”

Peak Fitness is located at 12051 E. Palmer-Wasilla Highway. The expansion is tentatively scheduled for completion in February.

Contact Chris Gillow at chris.gillow@frontiersman.com or 352-2284.