Fitness and sports centers – improved facilities for improved quality of life

  • Published
  • By Kate Blais
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  From Monday to Friday each week, 1,100 to 1,200 people pass through the doors of the Rosburg Fitness Center. Some weight train, some work on their cardiovascular health and some use the basketball and racquetball courts. Whatever their fancy, Team Edwards has options to stay 'Fit to Fight', and they're about to have more.

Pete Smith, 95th Force Support Squadron Edwards Fitness and Sports Center director, has a good idea of what his customers want.

"Everyone knows we need a new fitness center," said Mr. Smith. "We have the oldest fitness center in the active duty inventory and we're number one for a new one.

"But as we all know, with the financial issues that we have in the government right now, they can't guarantee when we're going to get a new fitness center. So we've been given project monies to enhance our quality of life until we can get a new fitness center," he said.

In the past two years, the Fitness and Sports Center has received $7 million from the Office of the Secretary of Defense for projects aimed at improving quality of life.

Edwards can expect new things from the center this summer and fall as ongoing construction projects come to life, all with the intent to enhance quality of life for the Edwards community.

Past projects have included installing new front doors in the Rosburg Fitness Center, resurfacing the track and refurbishing the indoor basketball and racquetball courts. Current construction projects are aimed specifically at training for the Airmen's physical fitness test.

"We're doing all this to enhance the military PT program," said Mr. Smith. "Right now all they [Airmen] do is run, which isn't going to get them a passing score. They have to develop their muscle systems as well."

A 13-station par course will be set up along the running trail to add a variety of physical elements to a cardiovascular workout. Stations will include pull-ups, a 10-foot climbing wall, tires to maneuver through, uneven bars and a heart-rate station.

Additional improvements to existing workout areas include:
- Replacing the current lighting around the track to accommodate those interested in running at night - runners will be able to turn the lights on and off themselves;
- A new PT pad will be installed near the track to match the layout of the existing PT area;
- The running trail will be extended up to the main Base Housing Office on the corner of Forbes and Payne avenues; and,
- The softball field behind the gym is currently getting a facelift.

The facelift on the softball field is really a complete makeover.

"They're [construction crews] leveling out the ground, installing a brand new sprinkler system, grass and new infield dirt," said Thomas Guy, 95th FSS facility manager at the Rosburg Fitness Center. "This will give the intramural and extramural league teams a much better playing field."

All of the current and upcoming projects are coordinated between Mr. Smith and the 95th Air Base Wing Civil Engineer Division.

"You tell them what your need is, they design it and build it," Mr. Smith said.

Also in the works is an acrylic roller hockey rink to be installed in the area behind the Joshua Tree Dining Facility and the dormitories. The rink will accompany two existing sand volleyball courts and an outdoor basketball court.

"Since we deal with the sports and fitness programs, we kind of know what our customers are looking for," said Mr. Smith. "One of the things we hear from organizations, like the Airmen's Council, is that there's nothing for them to do [on base]. We know that they like to play sand volleyball and outdoor basketball on their time off. So we thought why not combine them and make a sports complex for the folks in the dorms. That gives them three venues in one area."

According to Mr. Smith, the softball field is expected to be completed in the coming weeks, while the remainder of the projects are expected to come to fruition by the end of September.

"We are doing so many big things right now," said Mr. Guy. "I've been here for 10 years and I've not seen this much construction and this much improvement at one single time like I do now."