A Palos Heights alderman is asking the city's Parks and Recreation committee to look into the possibility of building a new fitness center.
Michael McGrogan, an alderman for the 4th Ward, said the current favorable bond rates for construction projects, which had come up in discussion of library construction, make for an ideal time to build a center. He talked about a comprehensive fitness center at a recent City Council meeting.
"This would be a complete rec center that you could actually have people working out (at)," McGrogan said.
Skip ahead to the 26:00 mark in this video from the Jan. 15 City Council meeting on PHTV Channel 4's UStream feed.
Palos Heights current rec center, located at 6601 W. 127th St., currently offers a variety of exercise programs and fitness classes.
A fitness center project is proposed for Tinley Park, which will have cardio equipment, batting cages, a pool and other amenities, is estimated to cost about $5.6 million. McGrogan referenced the neighboring village's project during his request at the Jan. 15 council meeting.
McGrogan estimates that the project could cost Palos Heights $10,000 a month, part of which would be offset by operating revenues. Voters could give the nod to funding, McGrogan said, noting that pool referendums had passed in the past.
"I think we can afford it," he said.
What do you think? Would you welcome an updated, comprehensive and public fitness center? Do you think Palos Heights can afford it? Tell us in the comments.
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Harold Reisler
OF OUR KIDS. RT 83 I think is too BUSY for the Rec center. As it is people blow through stop signs in Palos like it's nothing. Sorry in my eyes our kids SAFETY should come first!!! If they have to cross a busy street not a very good idea. PEASE KEEP OUR KIDS SAFETY IN YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS!!
Different topic, but can we get our resident comic Chuck to post past Wednesday Cartoon "Submit Headline" contest winners and have a tournament. Say for best of 2012? Just an Idea... I nominate the Sept 26th Chicken Cartoon .
we shouldn’t be attacking someone’s idea because it’s not 100% inline with your thinking HA HA THATS NOT IT AT ALL Please give me a break do you see the way people drive here so yes I worry about safty and another thing your street lights who is is going to pay for that nice to spend money that we don't have and this is why people are living paycheck to paycheck LIVE WITH IN MAKE DO WITH WHAT U HAVE IM not saying we don't need a New Rec but just fix it the right away not with duct tape
we shouldn’t be attacking someone’s idea because it’s not 100% inline with your thinking HA HA THATS NOT IT AT ALL Please give me a break do you see the way people drive here so yes I worry about safty and another thing your street lights who is is going to pay for that nice to spend money that we don't have and this is why people are living paycheck to paycheck LIVE WITH IN MAKE DO WITH WHAT U HAVE IM not saying we don't need a New Rec but just fix it the right away not with duct tape
I agree with the bad drivers comment, but bad drivers are everywhere, not just Palos Heights. The gentleman who drove through the building was from Lemont - - -glad he was ok. I'm just saying that technically we don't have a Rec Center. We have an old school pretending to be a Rec Center. Our Rec Department has done a great job with the various programs they offer for people of all ages. Wouldn't it be great if we had an updated facility to go along with those programs? One of our alderman thought we could afford it, so I'd like to hear more. This may be a bit out of the box, but maybe someone like a Palos Hospital could help offset the construction cost by opening some sort of small wellness center within the new facility and they receive some signage or naming rights in return.
I'm not impressed with Palos Rec did you ever notice how many people are gone in the last few years really why a high turn over? You think city hall would look into that but I guess not.