The Whitney Recreation Center, located on the northside of St. Cloud, was donated to the City by Mrs. Alice Whitney in 1933. It was originally an airport – donated in memorial of her late husband. When the City Council had to move the airport in 1962 due to zoning regulations, the Whitney Family allowed the city to keep the land, with the requirement it be used for “recreation only.” In 1977, the Whitney Senior Center was created from the remaining airport hangar. In 1996, St. Cloud Park and Recreation Department expanded and developed the Whitney Recreation Center and Sports Complex.
The Whitney Recreation Center facility has 3 hardwood basketball courts, 5 volleyball courts, 6 pickleball courts, an indoor walking track, and an exercise room. The Whitney Recreation Center is for all ages and offers a variety of programs: KinderGym, youth volleyball, sports sampler, open gym, pickleball lessons and skills classes, adult volleyball leagues, fitness classes, and much more.
In 2018, Whitney Rec went through a major renovation both inside and outside their facilities, including new curtains, resurfacing the floor, painting new lines, repainting walls, and improving the basketball hoops. Outdoors, they’ve leveled fields and added new material, implemented a turf management plan, updated lighting, and added scoreboards and new bleachers.
Not only are they making physical changes, but programming has expanded as well. Marci Sussenguth, Recreation Supervisor filled us in, “We are really excited to offer fitness classes for all ages. Whit-Fit Camp is on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6:15-7am. This is a blend of cardio, bodyweight exercises, and speed and agility elements within each class session in a circuit format. Your body will be challenged with this interval training – bursts of intense activity alternated with intervals of lighter activity. If you are looking to start moving, sweating, and building strength this is the class for you.
In addition to weekly Fit Camp, they offer Cardio Core on Tuesday and Thursday 6:15-7am to focus on core strength, balance, and agility. These classes use high-intensity interval training (HIIT), Tabata, and KardioKick. “All classes can have high or low impact, depending on your level and needs. Regardless, we always hear how great the workout is and how good people feel. We have a fantastic trainer and instructor for our classes and personal training. Whatever level you are at, we are here to help get you started and keep you going.”
“In comparison to other fitness facilities, our focus is to serve the people of St. Cloud and facilitate space and opportunity for those across the region to be active and enjoy participation in recreational activities. The “business” part is working with individuals or groups to meet their interests in an environment that is well maintained. We aren’t focused on making a profit. Instead, our focus is on investing in the recreational needs in St. Cloud and the surrounding region. We’re excited to be able to offer morning fitness classes at an affordable rate. The facility allows you to focus on your individual experiences or needs while still having the opportunity to bring a group of friends together for some fun.”
Whit Fit classes range from $40-$60 for six-week sessions, or you can pay as you go. You can attend a class daily for $3.50 per class, or buy a 10 class punch pass (if you like to mix and match) for $32.50. Everyone is invited to try their first class free. More information can be found at https://ci.stcloud.mn.us/1778/Fitness-Classes
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