Search Weight Loss Topics:




Aug 8

Lake Bluff Park District looks to boost declining fitness center membership – Chicago Tribune

The Lake Bluff Park District plans to send out a survey by mid-August as part of an effort aimed at finding out what services and programs should be offered.

In particular, the Park District would like to increase membership at its Health and Fitness Center.

"We've seen some downward financial trends in the last three to five years," said Ron Salski, executive director. "Exercise classes, personal training and the fitness center."

The Park District, which is financially independent of the village, has an annual operating budget of about $5.6 million per year. Of that, a little over 40 percent comes from tax revenue, Salski said. The rest is from user fees.

Survey results are expected back in the first week of September, Salski said. Those results will go to a strategy team composed of park district staff and four residents. The strategy team will propose next steps and present its recommendations to the Park District Board of Commissioners.

Salski doesn't know why membership at the fitness center has varied, although he speculates it might be due to an aging population or increased competition.

"We're trying to figure out what the best services and programs are to offer the community," Salski said.

In 2010, the annual membership at the Health and Fitness Center was 858, according to the district. Membership recently peaked at 1,064 in 2012 and declined to 720 in 2015.

Al Boese of Lake Bluff describes himself as a fan of the Health and Fitness Center, 355 W. Washington Avenue, which he visits almost every morning for its Silver-Fit class. He recently participated in a focus group aimed at soliciting suggestions for improvements.

"This is a very, very high value proposition," Boese said. "It's a great value because of the facility and its programs. The staff is very professional. It's a nice facility that could be busier from the standpoint of membership. The facility is underutilized in the times I go there."

Boese speculates that many residents of the Lake Bluff are unaware of the Health and Fitness Center or the variety of programs it offers.

"I think more open houses would be useful and some sort of public relations program to expand awareness," Boese said.

mlawton@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter: @reporterdude

Read the original post:
Lake Bluff Park District looks to boost declining fitness center membership - Chicago Tribune

Related Posts

    Your Full Name

    Your Email

    Your Phone Number

    Select your age (30+ only)

    Select Your US State

    Program Choice

    Confirm over 30 years old

    Yes

    Confirm that you resident in USA

    Yes

    This is a Serious Inquiry

    Yes

    Message:



    matomo tracker