By O’Dell Isaac

odell.isaac@gazettedev.gazette.com

During the State of the Bases address in August, Col. Eric Bogue, commander of Space Base Delta 41, told a collection of military, civic and business leaders that he envisioned a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new, expanded fitness center at Schriever Space Force Base by the end of September.

On Thursday, wielding a pair of oversized scissors, Bogue brought that vision to reality during a brief ceremony outside the new building.

The ceremony was the culmination of a project seven years in the making, Bogue said.

“This project has been in development for many, many years,” Bogue said.

The original fitness center, opened in December 2001, was too small to accommodate the increasing needs of a growing Schriever population, according to Air Force Maj. Kylie Kopp.

“The Space Force is growing, and so is Schriever,” said Kopp, the 50 Force Squadron commander. “We needed a facility that is more able to meet their fitness needs.”

Brian Kehl, Space Operations Command’s combat support deputy, echoed Kopp’s sentiments.

“(The original facility) was too small when we opened it 25 years ago, which means we put a significant demand on that particular facility,” Kehl said.

“There are more than 7,000 people who enter this installation every day, including Space Force Guardians, the Missile Defense Agency, and intelligence partners. This facility could not meet the demands of the population.”

The initial design phase for the new facility began in October 2020. Nearly three years later, on Aug. 23, 2023, officials held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction.

The $40 million expansion project adds roughly 56,000 square feet to the 20,000-square-foot of the original facility, making it about 2½ times larger, officials said. It includes:

• A fitness area outfitted with roughly $700,000 worth of new cardiovascular and weight training equipment.
• Two full-size basketball courts that can be converted for volleyball.
• A larger group exercise room.
• A racquetball court.
• A one-eighth-mile indoor running track.
• Increased locker room capacity.

A new security system will allow 24/7 access to the fitness center, officials said.

The old facility will be renovated, replacing the existing basketball courts with two pickleball courts, Bogue said.

The timing of the new facility could not have been better, according to Bogue. Earlier this week, the Air Force confirmed that it will implement a new set of physical fitness standards in 2026, with airmen taking a fitness assessment every six months, including a yearly 2-mile run instead of the current 1.5-mile run. Bogue said he expects the Space Force to follow suit at some point in the foreseeable future.

“This facility signifies how critically important is to prioritize the mental well-being, the fitness and quality of every airman, guardian, government civilian and family member that calls this installation home,” he said.

Ceremony attendees were given a guided tour of the new facility on Thursday. Bogue said he hopes the grand opening will take place in early October.

“I’m looking in the direction of everyone I just thanked,” he said. “That’s our goal, guys. Let’s get it across the finish line.”