The Big Lake High School Fitness Center was recently remodeled as a part of improvements approved by Big Lake Voters in a referendum in 2021. Now the project is complete and the fitness center is open to students and community members alike. 

The fitness center is a great new asset to students, and many gym classes have taken advantage of the new space. It’s also open exclusively to students right after school. Big Lake Online students are also welcome to use the space, even during regular school hours so long as it doesn’t interfere with their studies. 

The large room includes a variety of exercise machines, as well as two  private shower/changing rooms. It is 2.5 times larger than the old weight room. 

But what many community members may not have realized is the fitness center is also open to residents of Big Lake who purchase a membership. Non-student members are able to use the fitness center all day, even during school hours. It is only closed to the public after school until 6 p.m. for student-exclusive use. But all other times of the day, members are welcome to come, even if students are using the space for a gym class. 

The fitness center can be accessed from a secure entrance near the front doors of the school. A fitness center member coming during school hours will have to buzz in to the building and be given access by an attendant. There is an attendant on hand for the duration of the fitness center’s operating hours. The fitness center is open on weekends 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and weekdays 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Membership for the fitness center is only $10 per month, of $80 for the whole school year. Seniors over 62 years old can use the fitness center for free.

Stephanie Hillman, Director of Community Education & Communication Services, said the decision was made to open the fitness center to the public because the community voted yes on the referendum that funded the improvement project, so it seemed fair to open it to the public to use.