Fitness, health facility employs medical model for comprehensive wellness
Orange City Area Health System, in partnership with community agencies and organizations, launched a campaign for the creation of a new health and wellness facility to serve Northwest Iowa and the region. The proposed Aspire Center for Healthy Living – a multi-generational, multi-use 115,000-square-foot facility to be constructed on the Highway 10 corridor – will kick off its information campaign with social media and community meetings in August.
“The Aspire Center will feature many of the traditional fitness and wellness activities, but so much more,” reports Marty Guthmiller, CEO of Orange City Area Health System and chair of the planning committee for the Aspire Center. “We are excited to introduce it soon to Orange City residents – and the entire region – and expect it to be yet another reason why someone would choose to live and work and play in our community.”
The impetus for the Aspire Center for Healthy Living was information shared by the American Hospital Association regarding “Social Determinants of Health.” The AHA report determined that the majority (80 percent) of a person’s and population’s health and well-being is outside of the scope of traditional “healthcare.”
“Population health and well-being extends outside the scope of access to, and quality of, traditional healthcare,” explained Guthmiller. “Some of the other determinants of health include the walkability and livability of a community, as well as fitness, nutrition, transportation, housing, economic stability, and various social programs. The Aspire Center will be a significant step in bringing many of these elements to bear in this region.”
The Aspire Center will serve as a destination for a variety of fitness, wellness, and health services and recreational activities. In addition to an Urgent Care Clinic and Physical Therapy Center – managed and staffed by Orange City Area Health System – the facility will house a 6,000 square-foot fitness center featuring cardio, weights, and exercise spaces; nearly 50,000 square-foot indoor turf for soccer, football, and other sports; large separate court area for basketball/volleyball/pickleball; an indoor children’s “playground”; a secure “child watch” area; demonstration kitchen; massage therapy; smoothie/coffee shop; and a Sanford Profile/Perform franchise.
“Without question, this facility will complement our current provision of health care to our region,” commented Guthmiller. “Perhaps as importantly, it adds new depth and breadth to the amenities offered in our community, providing economic stability to our region, supporting community growth and vitality, and increasing all of our focus on well-being.”
A Facebook page serves as the source for updates on this project, and a series of community meetings will be taking place prior to the G.O. Bond vote in September.
Polls open at 7:00am on September 10 for registered Orange City voters.
“We humbly ask for the community’s support of this bond issue,” stated Guthmiller on behalf of the planning committee and associated project partnerships, “and ask that people from the area take advantage of our informational sessions coming soon to learn more.”
Watch for details via media and social media.