STERLING – Want to get your steps in, lift weights, swing a bat or shoot hoops when most of the town is asleep?
Beginning Jan. 6, the Sterling Park District can make that happen.
Westwood Sports Complex will open its fitness center, indoor track and turf, batting cages and basketball courts – all within Building 1 – 24 hours a day Tuesday through Thursday for members or drop-ins for $7, while everything else will be open from 4:30 a.m. Monday to 9 p.m. Friday.
Weekend hours will remain 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
With the increase of public exercise availability expanding nationwide, the district will adapt to fit needs of the public and current members, Westwood Building Manager Kel Bond said.
“One of the growing trends in fitness is being available 24 hours to catch second-shifters and third-shifters, and even long first-shifters,” Bond said. “We can get them available to do before-work and after-work options. Some people want to work out before work, and some people want to after.”
The fitness center, renovated after a 2013 fire caused smoke damage, has more than 35,000 square feet of cardio equipment, treadmills, free weights and other training equipment.
Nearby are two NBA-sized wood basketball courts and a AstroTurf area for football or soccer drills.
The expanded hours will mean an increase in staff, which is within budget, Bond said. Cleaning will move to the overnight hours.
“We’re hoping it will be well-received by current members, and potential members to bring new people in,” Bond said. “You always wonder when you go 24 hours how often it is that it will be used, and over the years we’ve heard enough where people want it whether they are already here or can potentially come.
“It’s an exciting thing to try and it’s a next step in what can we do and what can we offer.”
