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CITY, ND – (NewsDakota.com) The Gaukler Family Wellness, Health and Physical Education Center will be opening soon in Valley City. Members of the Valley City and surrounding communities will be able to use the 65,000 square-foot Wellness Center starting October 1, 2016.

The facility will feature a fitness center, swimming pool, multi-use court space, an indoor playground and gathering spaces.

IDEAS Group president Alison Kasowski said the Wellness Center is intended to benefit everyone in the community, the Community Wellness for All Program was created by the Sheyenne Valley Community Foundation. The John Deere Foundation provided the initial money to begin the program and has made a generous commitment totaling $100,000 to sustain the program over the next three years.

She says funds from Valley City Kiwanis, Essentia Health and a Mission Grant through CHI Mercy Health, and a $50,000 donation from a private donor have also been accepted to grow this program. She added, the Community Wellness For All Program provides the opportunity for low income youth and individuals to participate in programs and services offered through Valley City Parks and Recreation at free or reduced cost.

Kasowski says it was important to Valley City Parks and Recreation and those working on the project to ensure that everyone had access to quality health and wellness programs especially those who do not have funds to dedicate towards membership.  She said, this is an attempt to help reduce the negative statistics on childhood obesity and increase the number of physical activities to those most at risk.

She said after the commencement of Valley City Parks and Recreation summer activities in 2016, the program reports that they served 72 families (up from 64 families in 2015), with 298 summer programs accessed, in comparison to 203 in the summer of 2015.

The program also pays for Summer Track, which averages 38 children per night and runs for 8 weeks. The next year’s participation is expected to grow with the addition of fitness center membership vouchers.