Shaler Area School District has renovated its fitness center for students and the community, adding $90,000 worth of new equipment with contributions from municipalities and a state grant.

The state Department of Community and Economic Development awarded the district a $10,000 grant to update the fitness center, which opened to the public in 1998. The center is at the high school on Wible Run Road,

After seven years of wear, the equipment needed to be replaced, so the district appealed to surrounding communities, and fitness coordinator Michele Soose applied for the grant.

Etna, Millvale, Reserve and Shaler pledged contributions over five years to allow the center to add 24 pieces of aerobic equipment and 19 weight stations.

Tim Rogers, Shaler manager, said the township plans to contribute $20,000 over five years. The township had considered building a community center, but the school's fitness center fills that role, he said.

"The center saves the community driving miles outside the area to work out," said Craig von Behren, director of human services for the district.

The school district paid about half the cost of replacing the flooring, lighting and ventilation. A new entry was constructed, allowing the public to enter the center directly instead of through the high school.

Soose said community membership has nearly doubled to 200 since the Jan. 3 reopening. Twice as many sports teams can train in the center because a second room has been added, she said.

Now, one room holds the free weights and the other has aerobic equipment. The aerobic room is designed with six pods of three machines, following the Body Master system, she said. The system, intended for schools, allows five or six students to rotate every 15 seconds from machine to machine with a stepping station between.

After physical education classes and sports teams clear out, the center opens to the public at 5 p.m. Any district resident can use the center or evenings or weekends for a fee, or quarterly memberships are available. Quarterly memberships to the Community Health and Fitness Program are $36 for an individual, $51 for a family and $27 for senior citizens and college students.

Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 5 to 7 p.m. Fridays and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays. Modified summer hours will begin in June.

State Sen. Jane Orie, R-McCandles, will present the grant to the school at 5 p.m. May 26. The public is invited to the ceremony and to see the facilities.