OUR OPINION: A new era of fitness opportunity for all
September 23, 2012 at 5:45 pm in Grand Forks Herald
It’s a banner week in the history of the city, as it means Grand Forks is about to become a friendlier, more welcoming and more amenity-rich city for all. Continue Reading
This opinion piece is both on target and very off target. The opinion is correct that this city, the state and the nation as a whole need to address the rising obesity problem and the increased social costs (primarily healthcare) that are rising with the obesity rate. Anything that encourages exercise and physical activity is good. What I disagree with is the assertion that this facility will allow “poor” people greater access to exercise facilities. This ignores the fact that there will be a significant cost to access this facility; a cost that is higher than most of the private facilities in town. It also implies that there were insufficient facilities prior to the construction of the new facility which is not correct. There was a private facility less than a block away, a city owned facility, Planet Fitness, two Snap Fitness locations, the UND Wellness Center, the YMCA, least two independent “muscle gyms”, a Curves, Achieve Fitness and a Twenty-four Hour Fitness location; I am sure I am missing some other facilities such as boxing, martial arts and others, not to mention the various school gyms most of which have open hours and have community education classes. In addition, there is an extensive Greenway system and numerous parks. I do not agree with the suggestion that people did not have access to facilities prior to the construction of this facility. Solving the obesity problem is not a matter of providing more public facilities. The solution to the obesity problem is finding a way to motivate people to be responsible for their own health and well-being, to have parents become active with their children, and to educate people that fast food is a treat and not a staple. The shiny new facility will certainly attract some new members to the “fitness community”, but I suspect that the long-term membership will be the same individuals and families who would have been active even if this facility were not built. I hope the facility is successful and that it energizes the community into personal responsibility for our own health. Unfortunately, what I believe the facility represents is the ultimate fitness facility that a small group of wealthier citizens wanted but didn’t want to fund themselves.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Agreed. 50/75 is not cheap. Also I worry about the segregation of poor to the north & better heeled to the south.
I am not sure I will change from the wellness center at UND. I send my kid to the $10 a month place on Washington.
This was something that should not have been built with tax dollars. A new library would have been more important
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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The membership at choice is expensive. FYI-Lower income families can receive reduced memberships at the YMCA, I believe a Y membership can be used a Choice and vice versa. Ultru employees receive a discounted membership and if you work out at least 12 days a month you can receive a $20 health insurance discount.
I canceled my monthly membership at the $10 dollar joint on S. Washington, although I may be re-upping it soon. The drawback for me at Choice is the weight room has a terrible layout..small crammed space with limited options to choose from. All in all UND’s Wellness Center is second to none in this city.
As far as GF needing a new library over a wellness center, I strongly disagree. I visit the local library frequently, I take my younger children to read them book while there and also allow them to exchange books for home. I have yet to find it too busy. The books on the main floor are pretty dusty. The hit over there is the computer lounge. I would rather my children be spending time at a fitness/recreation facility than surfing the web or updating their facebook status.
Take Care FN!
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You forgot 9 GF/EGF hockey rinks soon to be 11 & a 40,000 sq.’ indoor water park @ Canad Inns, 3 outdoor public pools & 2 indoor public pools. Having said that, the new place is about 50% indoor tennis courts which already existed @ Center Ct. What was gained? 3 handball cts., a walking track & 2 exercise studios. The other components already existed someplace else. How much did this have to do with the increase in the value of Crary real estate in the future surrounding neighborhoods.
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The public sector should not subsidize businesses to compete with the private sector. whether it be Alerus catering or this. My bet is, though, you’ll never see a city-owned liquor store or law firm.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Gene, your comment is well taken. It will be interesting to see what happens with the private health facilities. If any go out of business because of the new wellness center it would be a shame that a public entity is competing to the detriment of private business. However, if none of the private businesses close I wonder if the predicted cash flow necessary to run the facility can be achieved. It is a “catch twenty-two” for the city; I am sure the city doesn’t want the private facilities to close but it may be necessary for them to close if the new center won’t run a deficit.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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The problem is that with public sector projects such as this, there is absolutely NO profit motive. There doesn’t have to be. When the red ink flows, they just go to the taxpayer for more money. The Alerus has been especially egregious in this. This health center will be the same, as will the proposed hockey rink. But you won’t read anything about it in the Herald.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I agree Gene. The Choice project should have not included any taxpayer assistance. That’ the big difference, thus far the new rinks are not asking for tax dollars and the amount of private funding being provided is extremely generous. I’m not ready to jump to conclusions on the whole arena issue.
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The rinks may be built with private funds but then turned over to the tax payers supported Park Board who gave you the No Choice Wellness Center and all the bills that go with it.
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As I said elsewhere, $7 million from donors is pie in the sky. Plus, who foots the bill for the inevitable cost overruns? And has been said, running the place will be paid for by the Parks Dept…i.e., us.
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I can see it now….A municipal liquor store with branches all over town similar to Valley Dairy’s concept. They would compete with Happy Harry’s by cutting prices.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Dream on. Gershman would never even let it on the agenda, even though he has no problem with other businessess subsidizing public sector projects.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Municipal liquor stores are fairly common in North Dakota. They really help fund all sorts of community projects around the state.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT! A Godsend to struggling Grand Forks!
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You mean like the lotto was supposed to do?
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Where? Minnesota yes but North Dakota?
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I couldnt even get past the first paragraph since it sounds like butterflies and rainbows and doesnt take into account that it’s the NO Choice typical Grand Forks project. I’m all for health and wellness, BUT not at taxpayers expense when it was never voted on by taxpayers. We already have multiple health facililities that are just fine and MUCH more affordable to those of us who dont happen to be city or Altru employees. Quit trying to brainwash people with butterflies and rainbows and be honest for once.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Notice the Herald coordinated this with a bunch of stories on obesity? Some coincidence, huh?
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“Quit trying to brainwash people with butterflies and rainbows”
That’s WONDERFUL. I’ve agreed with a lot of stuff on this forum tonight, I’ve STRONGLY agreed with some of it (Thanks, Gene)…but that is the SINGLE SENTENCE that I’ve seen tonight that I’m going to carry around for years to come.
Thank you.
Consider this my formal application for permission to use that phrase myself.
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Kind of scary when we all seem to be agreeing here.
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That’s because we aren’t talking about the price of gas.
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That’s true. I wonder who the lone negative poster is?
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It will go like gangbusters for 6 months, then everyone will let their memberships expire and go back to eating fries and cheeseburgers. In 2 years it will it will be a ghost town.
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