Jones Center Opens New Fitness Center

Donations Make Addition Possible

Mike Gilbert, from left, uses workout equipment Thursday as Carolene Thornton, director ChildCare Aware, Barbara Goodman, off campus program manager for NorthWest Arkansas Community College and Kathryn Gough, with U.S. Sen. John Boozman’s office, look on during the opening of the Fitness Center at the Jones Center in Springdale. Several organizations contributed to the center including the Walton Family Foundation, Tyson Foods, Northwest Arkansas Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Walmart/Sam’s Team, and Good Sports. The center features new equipment including 13 pieces of cardiovascular and six strength training machines, dumb bells, mats and flat screen televisions.
Mike Gilbert, from left, uses workout equipment Thursday as Carolene Thornton, director ChildCare Aware, Barbara Goodman, off campus program manager for NorthWest Arkansas Community College and Kathryn Gough, with U.S. Sen. John Boozman’s office, look on during the opening of the Fitness Center at the Jones Center in Springdale. Several organizations contributed to the center including the Walton Family Foundation, Tyson Foods, Northwest Arkansas Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Walmart/Sam’s Team, and Good Sports. The center features new equipment including 13 pieces of cardiovascular and six strength training machines, dumb bells, mats and flat screen televisions.

SPRINGDALE — Getting in shape will be easier at the Jones Center following the opening of an expanded fitness center.

A grand opening for the relocated fitness area was held Thursday, showing off new equipment in a renovated space on the main level. The old, smaller fitness center was on the lower level next to the gymnasium.

Donations from the Walton Family Foundation and Good Sports made the new center possible, said Ed Clifford, chief executive officer of the Jones Trust, which oversees operations of the Jones Center. The local Dr Pepper Snapple Group submitted an application for the Good Sports donation of equipment, he said.

The Walton Family Foundation committed in December to donating $1 million per year for three

Fast Facts (w/logo)

Jones Fitness Center

Cost per year (gym and fitness center only)

Child: $15

Adult: $25

Family: $60

Hours: 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday

Source: Jones Center

years for improvement to the center. Steve Bratspies, an executive vice president at Walmart, also

is a member of the Jones Center Development Council.

“The Jones Center is a key part of Northwest Arkansas,” Bratspies said. “It’s mission is critical to the area. It is important to have a facility like this where everyone is welcome.”

The donation by Good Sports will help the Jones Center lay the foundation for a healthy and active community, said Morgan Coleman, national accounts director for Good Sports. The charitable organization aims to promote active lifestyles by providing equipment and apparel to disadvantaged youth.

The donation included fitness equipment such as weight benches, dumbbell racks and medicine balls. Good Sports also donated gymnastic equipment for an upcoming youth program, according to a news release.

“We are reorganizing the way we offer recreation in the Jones Center,” Clifford said. “We’ve been undergoing our reorganization for about a year.”

The center will add classes, said Michael Kirk, center director of recreation and fitness. Classes will include Zumba, Aqua Zumba and Turbo Kick.

The Jones Center includes an indoor ice rink, two indoor swimming pools, a gymnasium, a conference center, auditorium and computer center. The center cut the number of employees and added user fees in recent years to make the facility more sustainable.

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