Rossmoor residents ran out of superlatives when describing the renovated Tice Creek Fitness Center. “I love it. It’s what we’ve been waiting for. It didn’t disappoint,” said Marcia Schwartz. “It outdoes the older (local) fitness places. … There are no complaints here.” Ron Schwartz agreed. “It’s fabulous.” The center had a low key opening last Wednesday. A constant stream of residents, estimated to total about 1,000 on the first two days, toured the center. Fitness staff gave tours, instruction on how to use the new equipment and demonstrations.

Residents were enthusiastic about what they saw. The Fitness Center just underwent a $10 million renovation that saw the building gutted down to the outside walls and turned into a contemporary facility filled with new fitness equipment.

Residents said they liked that there was more state-ofthe-art equipment, additional exercise rooms, a gym with two pickleball courts and one basketball court, a feeling of
spaciousness, a low noise level and the large windows that let people see out and let in natural light.

If there were some complaints, it was that there was no coffee bar and that residents no longer have a reason not to exercise.

“Oh my goodness, I think it’s out of this world. Look at all the people using it (the center and its equipment),” said Janey King who stopped in after her water aerobics class. “This is first class – I love it.”

Gloria Crabbe said, “It’s amazing. They did a wonderful job. They couldn’t have done better.”

Residents wasted no time to try out the exercise equipment. Within a half hour of the opening, most of the equipment was in use.

Because the Tice Creek Fitness Center has so many visits, residents are advised to take a Rossmoor bus or carpool to the facility because of limited parking. There were well over 186,000 visits to the center in 2016, the last year figures were available, said Tim O’Keefe, Rossmoor CEO. It’s expected that usage of the facility will increase 10 to 30 percent this year, drawing as many as 240,000 visits.