I've been taking classes through the park district for a couple years now, but only just started…read morevisiting the rec center. I wanted to start running, but terrible weather was preventing me from being outside, so I hit upon a solution of buying a multi-use pass for the fitness center and using the treadmill.
I didn't really want a monthly or quarterly pass because I'm just not dedicated enough to come regularly enough to make it worth it. But a 10-use pass for $27 or a 20-use pass for $36, that's pretty reasonable.
This building is clearly an old school that was converted. I haven't explored all of it but there seem to be several rooms used for martial arts, dance, yoga, and probably other fitness classes. I've mostly been in the fitness center, which seems to be either one big or two smaller classrooms combined and converted.
The good: There's all the basics and essentials -- weights/strength training on one side, including some machines, balance balls, resistance bands, etc. The cardio side has a few treadmills, a couple of ellipticals, a stair climber, a few bikes and a couple TVs.
There is a water fountain, a restroom and a shower room. There also about 8 lockers for stashing stuff.
The not-as-good: It just doesn't feel like a dedicated gym facility. I was spoiled by Wood Dale's rec center, a town about a third the size of Lombard. Wood Dale's has two proper locker rooms with showers, a free-to-the-community walking/running track and a fitness center that's bigger and has nicer, newer equipment. They also have a somewhat wider variety of classes.
Lombard's facilities feel somewhat makeshift. They're a bit cramped, there's one shower with a note about letting it warm up for 15 minutes in winter, no indoor track, no spin classes.
In my dream world, Lombard would take over the old Kmart space sitting and rotting at Roosevelt and Finley and make it a shiny new dedicated rec, fitness and community center. But in the real world, I'll make do with the adequate facilities at Sunset Knoll and keep running on the treadmill.
