By Iheb Klai | Observer Contributor
Open to the public since 1995, the Mount Wachusett Community College Fitness and Wellness Center’s main purpose is to
promote healthy lifestyles by providing knowledge on exercising. In the last few years, some of the students, faculty, and staff have complained about the current state of the Fitness Center, and many members decided to move to other centers around the area.
Jared Swerzenski, former Director of the Fitness and Wellness center said, “We are in a very competitive market with seven other gyms within a 15 miles radius, including Planet Fitness that just came in three years ago. Even though there is such a tough market we have pushed to create our own identity at the Fitness Center. As for membership, we are moving in a positive direction, with an increase of 23 percent of new memberships in just 24 months.”
Swerzenski said, “I think we have made some unbelievable strides the last couple of years to make sure we are keeping up with all of the current trends in the fitness industry.”
The Gym Center Staff has been working hard to make renovations and changes. Swerzenski said, “Over the last two plus years we have put significant resources and funds into upgrading the facilities equipment. We have purchased over 20 new pieces of Cardio and Weight Equipment. We have also totally renovated our Kid Care area and Core Room.”
The Fitness and Wellness building offers a lot more than just graduation each year, such as Student Orientation, NACAC College Fair, MIAA Cross Country Awards Banquets, Massachusetts Pinewood Derby Event, and Relay for Life, as stated by the director. It also hosts Gardner Youth Basketball practices, Narragansett Youth Baseball Youth Clinics, AED Fundraiser, Pickle ball fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Hannaford’s Volleyball night to help raise money for the Relay for Life, and many other sports events to encourage the community.
Summer 2018 will bring many changes around the Gym area. There will be huge parking lot project, according to Swerzenski. This should improve both parking and safety.
The budget is the main issue in renovating the Fitness Center. Currently the college is facing a difficult period choosing to make major renovations rather than general maintenance. According to James Vander Hooven, President of MWCC, “The budget is not enough. We are currently in a difficult stretch for finding the significant funds that are required for major renovations on the campus overall. We have a couple of projects that are just ahead of the fitness center which we hope to be able to do soon given the very limited funds made available by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
The Fitness and Wellness center offers a wide variety of services to the community and host many events during the year “I feel the community knows that the Fitness and Wellness Center is always here to help support in any way we can” stated by Swerzenski
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