Nellis breaks ground for new Fitness Center Published Oct. 1, 2010 By Lawrence Crespo Nellis Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Nellis Air Force Base commanders and the City of North Las Vegas leaders broke ground on a state-of-the-art 109,000 square-foot Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)-certified fitness center being constructed on the base, Sept. 29. The new facility will be 2 1/2 times larger than the existing facility with modern utility systems. It will be better equipped to support the Air Force's Fit to Fight Program with an indoor running track, three basketball courts to accommodate whole unit programs, and increased capacity to handle aerobic exercise and strength training equipment. It will also contain an indoor pool offering year-round access to both the Nellis populace and military water training. "Fitness in our Air Force is one of the elements we cannot over emphasize," said Col. Steven Garland, 99th Air Base Wing commander. "Having a new state-of-the-art facility to prepare our war fighters to go down range is a blessing and we are truly appreciative of the partnership we have established with the City of North Las Vegas". The fitness facility is the result of a partnership between the City of North Las Vegas and the U.S. Air Force. The U.S. Air Force is leasing the city a 41-acre parcel for construction of a water reclamation facility capable of treating 25 million gallons of wastewater per day. Under the enhanced use lease agreement, the city paid the U.S. Air Force $25 million to build the new Nellis fitness center. City of North Las Vegas Mayor Shari Buck said that she, the city council, the citizens of North Las Vegas, and all who are involved in this project are excited for the fitness center to be built. "We are proud of the partnership we have with Nellis," she said. "We support and appreciate what you do for our community and nation. We ask for God's blessings to be upon those who serve." The fitness center is scheduled to be complete by November 2011.
