Broadlands fitness facilities

It has been suggested in other posts that it would be nice if Broadlands had its own fitness center ala Ashburn Village. I wish there was a room full of weight and cardio machines that I had free (included in HOA fee) access too within Broadlands. During the summer we can keep fit at 1 of 3 pools. However once summer is over, you've got to find some other fitness activity. I have given it some thought and I would like to suggest the following capital improvements.

Convert part of either the Southern Walk Nature Center (visitors center) or Broadlands community center (former visitors center on Waxpool) into a fitness facility. Do we really need more than 1 large room for meetings/events?

Enclose (year round) pool at the Broadlands Community Center. Combined with a fitness center in the main room and we would have a very nice fitness center. The pool has changing/locker facilities that are unused 3/4 of the year.

A fitness center would also be a great attraction to new Broadlands homeowners looking to maximize their HOA fees. It should also improve our home values. The Potomac Club fitness center at Landsdowne is beautiful and a real assest to that Van Metre community. Once Southern Walk is sold out, what are the plans for the "Nature Center".

 

kholbert-
To address some of your questions, yes we do need more than one meeting facility. As it is today, the Community Center is heavily used and we have to turn down people regularly because it is already booked.
Enclosing the pool would be a huge capital cost, let alone the operating expenses. This would result in a huge increase in HOA fees. We are currently looking into the possibility of enclosing the Southern Walk pool, but I wouldn't get your hopes up.
Some thoughts to add exercise facilities:
1) Once we have the Nature Center, we may be able to use one of the rooms for some exercise equipment.
2) If the HOA gets control of the stone house at Hillside Park, we could look into fixing it up and adding exercise equipment. Although that would be expensive ($300,000-$400,000) it could be doable without a huge cost.

 

vacliff-
Thanks for the prompt reply. I figured that enclosing the Waxpool pool would cost less since its smaller than the Southern Walk pool. I would rather see our $$ go towards a exercise room. Perhaps the residents could donate some of their 'lightly used' fitness equipment. What is the approximate timeframe for HOA acquisition of the Nature Center? The Stone House is an interesting idea. Though I kind of like to leave it alone as a historical landmark. Perhaps it could be converted to a meeting/events room for less than a fitness center thus freeing up the Community Center to become a fitness center?

 

Cliff, I was wondering what the status of the YMCA interest was currently. At last year's annual meeting (May?) there was a presentation and discussion about it. I know there was some vocal opposition expressed about the concept, but I believe the show of hands showed that many people were interested in learning more. Where does this stand right now? Is there still a possibility that it may happen on the site that they were looking at initially?

Thanks for any additional information that you have at this point.

 

longtimer-
Here's the latest I know--
The YMCA has asked the county to provide some financial contribution to the building of the Y. Given that the county is giving them the site, they were not pleased the Y now wants money as well. Their feeling is that if it's going to cost the county money to build, they may as well build it as a county facility.
I was informed by Terrabrook that the Y has requested to come to the next HOA Board meeting to give us an update. That meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday.

kholbert-
The interior of the stone house would be too small for a meeting facility. I also agree it as an important landmark for the community, but I'd like to see it put to use.
It will probably be another 2-3 years before the Nature Center is turned over to the HOA.
Cliff