Dickinson area residents who routinely work out at the West River Community Center may find their favorite workout machine missing at the end of the month.
That's when the Dickinson Parks and Recreation Department plans to replace a lot of its current fitness equipment, which has been there since the center opened in May of 2004, with new equipment.
"We're just excited to be able to do this," Kevin Klipfel, the recreation facilities manager for the Parks and Rec said.
Klipfel said the plan has always been to get new equipment every four-and-a-half to five years to keep up with the latest technology.
Twenty-seven pieces of equipment will be removed and replaced by 32 new pieces, including new machines not seen at the WRCC before, like a rowing machine and 16 spinning bikes. The new equipment will cost $138,000, Klipfel said.
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Kristen Friedt, who works out at the community three to four times a week said the equipment is definitely something you get use to.
"It's the stuff that's been here since they opened so it's kind of what you're used to using," Friedt said.
Friedt said she can definitely see the need for newer, more varied equipment however, because it will provide a few more options.
"It's something different, something to perk your interest to keep you coming back," Friedt said. "When you come three, four, five times a week the same old stuff gets boring."
The Parks and Rec is accepting bids from interested parties who would like to purchase the old equipment for their homes.
Eric Kittelson, the facility supervisor for the WRCC, said the equipment is in excellent condition and would work really well in someone's home.
"There hasn't been any major damage done to any of it," Kittelson said. "It's definitely worth it."
Klipfel said they would have no problem keeping the old equipment because it still works well, but this was planned all along.
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"If I was in private business I would probably keep it for a few more years, it's in great shape," Klipfel said.
Along with new kinds of equipment, a lot of the new equipment will feature built-in televisions, which Klipfel said have gotten a good response in the past.
"They're all things to encourage people to work out, to make it less painful to, to make the time go quicker," Klipfel said. "Hopefully it will entice people to continue exercising and staying healthy."
Kittelson said it really comes down to making the people who use the community center happy and providing them with what they want.
"I think always trying to update the facility always keeps customers happy," Kittelson said. "Hopefully it will just be another attraction and keep people coming to the community center."
For more information on the on-sale equipment visit dickinsonparks.org
