By Pyc Fitness
©2004-2008
Many athletes have pumped iron in Hinsdale Central High School’s “dungeon” to put themselves in peak playing condition.
However, the dream of building a new fitness center for students might soon become a reality. When the Friends of Fitness Center Group sought cost estimates more than a year ago, the bids exceeded the funds in their account.
After continuous efforts to raise finances through raffles and private contributions, the group has come up with a detailed budget and is ready to move forward with the plan.
Bill Auriemma, whose son is a senior at Hinsdale Central, joined the group last spring to help get the job completed. Although his son will not be able to use the finished product — his other two children also already graduated — Auriemma said the fitness center is a worthwhile project.Students have nicknamed the current fitness center “the Dungeon” because of its location in the basement of the school and its low ceilings. The poorly ventilated, outdated room is in need of replacement.
The new facility will be a 5,000-square-foot, well-ventilated air conditioned room. With high ceilings and more state-of-the-art equipment, Auriemma said more students will be able to work out simultaneously. The group estimates the project to cost $470,000. If bids come in as expected, ground could be broken in early November.“When it’s completed, it will be a 20- or 30-year facility, which will benefit all of the students,” Auriemma said.
Although this is a privately funded project, Auriemma said Hinsdale Township High School District 86 Superintendent Nicholas Wahl has been very supportive in helping the project move forward.At the Sept. 17 School Board meeting, board member Vinaya Sharma suggested if for some reason the group is slightly short funds, the board could consider making up the minimal difference to see this project through. Member Richard Skoda, however, feared that would set a bad precedent and thought it should remain a private endeavor.
As a result, the memorandum of understanding between the district and the Friends of Fitness Center Group was redrafted and presented to the board Oct. 1.“The redraft does not commit the board to extra dollars. It puts the authority in the hands of the board to consider options if they want to,” Wahl said.Wahl added he is anxious to get the bids in and hopes construction can begin in November.
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