New family fitness course open for everyone

  • Published
  • By Frank Carter
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Families now have an outside fitness area to get fit as a group with the opening of the new Par Course, which is for use by both military and civilian personnel on Sheppard.

The course, which was originally scheduled to be opened last summer but was opened officially for business Nov. 20 of last year, was delayed due to soil samples for analyzing, the issue of planting grass during a drought and ensuring the concrete was level to minimize tripping.

The idea was to create a place open 24 hours a day to give base personnel and families a place to go walk and exercise in an outside climate. There is perimeter lighting for use during darkness.

"When the weather gets warmer, it will prompt people to go outside, use the facility and walk around the course with their families," said Brian Eskew, 82nd Force Support Squadron and base sports manager.

The course, which was fully funded by the Air Force, cost $419,038 to complete.

The decision to build the Par Course began with former 82nd Medical Group commander Col. Kimberley Ramos. As she was leaving, Ramos, whose goal was to put more fit into the fight, turned the project over to Col. Scott Chowning, 82nd Mission Support Group commander, to finish.

Designed for the casual fitness user, the course is not for military physical training.

Located along Avenues C and D and designed for the casual fitness user, includes total body fitness, a fat burning workout which exercises nearly all of the body's 600 muscles.

There are two identical stations of five different workout stations making a total of 10 stations with 4,500 ft. of concrete walking surface. Each station has 24 exercises at three different workouts.

The different stations include static and dynamic stretches; pulling, back, angle bar and hurdle exercises; squat, dip, push-up and balance exercises; power and agility step exercises; and core, torso and balance disc exercises.

For those who like to track their workouts, a smart phone application that will give you an interactive workout at each station with capabilities of each work out is available.

For information about the course, please call (940) 676-2972 or (940) 676-0491.