Area Two gym renovated, improved

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sarah Gregory
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  For Aviano members living and working in Areas One and Two, exercising is now easier than ever. The 31st Services Squadron has renovated the Area Two fitness center and added part of the former child development center to create more space and upgrade the workout rooms.

“We know the importance of having a gym here and the need for having a space for people to work out,” said 1st Lt. Michael McGrath, 31st SVS Combat Support Flight commander.

Renovations to the fitness center included knocking down walls and connecting the old CDC to the gym.

“This was done to consolidate the two facilities into one large, customer-friendly fitness center,” said Lieutenant McGrath. “The old gym was really small to begin with and had a lot of small, individual separated rooms for each activity. This made the gym difficult and awkward to use.”

After the two buildings were connected, a team came through to paint and spruce it up. The equipment, which had previously been crammed into several little rooms, was dispersed throughout the building.

“We had 27 volunteers from all different organizations come in and move all the equipment, in two days, into the newly-renovated areas,” Lieutenant McGrath said. “Now we have a hugely expanded cardio room and a separate free weight room all conveniently located.”

Other changes to the fitness center include moving the massage therapist into a larger, redecorated room, which Lieutenant McGrath said helps create the ambiance and atmosphere a massage room should have.

Future gym upgrades include two enclosed child playrooms - one in the cardio room and one in the big free weight and resistance machine room, a boxing or martial arts style studio and a cycling studio.

“Both play areas will be made with plexi-glass and in the line of sight of equipment users, so parents can see what the children are doing at all times,” said Tech. Sgt. Alec Maund, 31st SVS Area Two fitness director. “We are also planning to install shock- absorbing flooring in the weight room.”

All the changes the fitness center is undergoing were done for one reason only – the facility users.

“The improvements were made for the customers,” said Sergeant Maund. “We have dorm residents, workers in Area One and Two, and the hospital will be completed soon, bringing in more people.

“The renovations give them some services and availability so people don’t have to travel to the flightline area to workout,” he said.

The efforts to fix up the gym have not gone unnoticed by Aviano members. Sergeant Maund said since the gym is more user-friendly, they have seen a 200 percent increase in its usage.

“We’re excited about the facility and the classes we hope to offer soon,” he said. “We’re trying to mirror services the Dragon Fitness Center offers so everyone has a chance to participate in the fitness classes.”