The Phoenix Fitness Room at Peninsula Shores District School is officially open to the community.
The Bluewater District School Board held their grand opening Wednesday night along with an open house at the school for the public.
Director of Education John Bryant says the fitness room speaks to the community nature of the school.
Community Outreach Coordinator Sally Kidson says they had a few extra dollars to spend on the room because Peninsula Shores is designated as a priority school by the Ministry of Education.
In 2007-2008, 53 per cent of students attending Peninsula Shores were identified as coming from lower income families.
Kidson says that’s just of the statistics that led to its designation and the goal of a community school is to increase community involvement by removing financial barriers.
So, Kidson says the fitness room is open to the public and its free.
There’s a treadmill, elliptical machine, weight benches and a Bowflex machine.
Kidson says the rooms available Monday to Thursday 6 AM to 8 PM and Saturday mornings from 9 AM to 12 PM.
There’s other free things the community can do at the school, and Kidson says because of that, attendance at community events has increased 20 per cent in just one year.
