Eden Prairie Fitness Center Upgrade One of Many in the Metro

Fitness centers owned and operated by city staff are becoming more and more popular, according to a Star Tribune article published Aug. 29.

According to the article, Eden Prairie joins St. Louis Park and Shoreview in considering an upgrade to city fitness facilities.

The Star Tribune reports that seniors looking to stay active are taking up space in the community center’s lap pool, which was built 30 years ago, which is part of the reason for the change.

Eden Prairie is currently considering an aquatics center upgrade that would address the need for a variety of pool depths, hot tubs and inadequate spectator seating, among other issues.

Other metro-area cities, like Maple Grove, share communal fitness areas with private clubs, like Lifetime Fitness.

“There always seems to be a niche to be filled,” LifeTime spokeswoman Natalie Bushaw told the Star Tribune. “There’s a demographic Life Time hits. For people looking for an alternative, I think a community center is a good thing.”

Do you think city-owned fitness centers work well in the community? Tell us in the comments.