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Fitness center annex closing for renovations

  • Published
  • By Brian Schroeder
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Beginning at 7 p.m. today, the Tinker Fitness Center Annex Bldg. 216 will close for approximately three months to receive renovations and repairs. Maintenance is slated to be complete mid-September.

Currently, four of the eight racquetball courts are closed because of safety concerns. The proposed renovations, totaling $402,000, include upgrading two unused racquetball courts and converting the remaining two into a multi-purpose room to increase the space available for physical training and aerobic classes offered at the annex.

"In our fiscally constrained environment we are fortunate to have received funding through OSD Fitness Programs to make improvements to Tinker's fitness infrastructure," said Col. Herbert Wesselman, 72nd Mission Support Group commander.

According to Corie Wells, Tinker Fitness Center director, spin classes normally held at Bldg. 216 Fitness Center will be held at Gerrity Fitness Center Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 a.m., Fridays at 11 a.m. and Wednesday afternoons at 4:30 p.m.

Also during the closure, the Bldg. 3705 Fitness Center will have a new free weight area, which will have one rack of free weights, one bench press, one incline bench press, two Olympic bars, two bench press bars, one preacher curl bench and two preacher curl bars.

OSD Fitness Program funding has also been secured for renovations at Gerrity Fitness Center, including the addition of a second mezzanine level for extra cardio equipment, locker room renovations, painting, roof repairs and floor refinishing. The Gerrity renovations will be phased to minimize disruptions and will not begin until after completion of the Fitness Center Annex project.

Patrons of the Bldg. 216 fitness center are encouraged to visit Gerrity Fitness Center or Bldg. 3705 Fitness Center to maintain physical conditioning during the annex renovation period. Gerrity operating hours are 4:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and 8:30 a.m. to 5 pm. Sundays. The Bldg. 3705 Fitness Center is open from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.