CHATTANOOGA FITNESS CENTER, aka The PowerHouse
PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE
The Chattanooga Fitness Center (CFC), located in Warner Park, has been in operation since 1990, averages between 3,000 – 4,000 users per month, and has served over 2.1 million participants since inception. With a mission to provide affordable ($1.00 entry fee, no memberships) and accessible health and fitness opportunities for underserved users of all abilities, our services seek to help improve the health and wellbeing of our citizens by addressing health risk factors including lack of physical activity, the growing rates of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, and the rising costs of health care for individuals, business and industry, and the community as a whole. The CFC’s user profile can be best described as a melting pot. Our demographics ratios are: Males - 65%, Females - 35%; African American - 58%, Caucasian - 25%, Hispanic - 15%, other - 2%. We take pride in providing equipment and services that other health and fitness providers either cannot fulfill or who do not wish to pursue as their target market (i.e. individuals with limited income, disability, who are obese, etc.). Our strategy includes purchasing equipment that is accessible and at the top of the commercial grade rating. We respect the spirit of not directly competing with free enterprise, instead focusing on filling in the gaps, thereby giving everyone the opportunity to address their health and physical fitness concerns. We are closely meshed with our Therapeutic Recreation program, providing mutually beneficial and collaborative efficiencies. Outside partners include UTC, UT College of Medicine, Chattanooga Hamilton County Health Department, East Chattanooga Improvement/Health Initiative, Erlanger, Siskin, and Memorial Hospitals, City of Chattanooga WellAdvantage, PlayCore, Trust for Public Land, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the American Heart Association. The Chattanooga Fitness Center also provides leadership and support for YFD’s Aquatics program, oversight responsibility for the East Chattanooga Wellness Program (currently programming out of Avondale & Carver YFD facilities), ongoing support for the City’s WellAdvantage program, assistance with the acquisition and implementation of outdoor Fitness Zones and fitness trails (including the Main Terrain and the Warner Park Fitness Trail), and physical fitness training services for the Fire Department’s New Hire Training Academies (we have provided these services since 1993, with over 500 Fire Cadets trained).
