Soldiers looking to stay in shape have no reason to leave Kelley Hill anymore, post DFMWR officials said.
Kefurt Fitness Center reopened June 1 following a $907,000 renovation that included overhaul and expansion of the weight room, addition of new strength equipment and installation of air conditioning. The facility had been closed for more than six months.
"It's just a big plus for Soldiers on the hill," said Jessie Moore, fitness center manager. "It has everything they need. They don't have to go to Main Post or Sand Hill ... There is an incentive to stay."
Kefurt's restoration involved two phases, said Lori Smith, fitness director for Fort Benning's Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. About two years ago, workers completed upgrades to the lobby area, basketball court, locker rooms and saunas.
In the latest changes, more space was added in the weight room. It has new free weights and Nautilus machines throughout, along with three 48-inch flat-screen TVs.
Three more televisions went into the cardio room - where the treadmills, stationary bikes and elliptical machines now feature built-in theater systems.
The cardio and weight rooms were combined prior to the renovation.
"They were very drab and not as bright," Smith said. "It was crammed in there. Now, it's much more functional space.
"Before, it just didn't motivate you to work out. We took it up a notch. And the Soldiers deserve something new and nice. It keeps that morale up."
The racquetball courts were removed and turned into a padded room for wrestling, boxing and Army combatives. Old storage space also was converted into areas for stretching and abdominal training.
Moore said exercise equipment remains in place at Outpost Harry, an annex to the fitness center behind the Kelley Hill Recreation Center.
When Kefurt was shut down in November, Soldiers began using showers in the bathhouse at Kelley Hill's outdoor swimming pool, Smith said. But now that the fitness center is open again, they'll be closed along with the pool at the end of summer.
Kefurt Fitness Center is open 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday, Sunday and holiday.
"It's basically like a new facility," Smith said. "It now offers a basketball court, cardio room, saunas, additional weight room space and a boxing room. There is just a great deal of options to get a variety of workouts in."
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