MUSCATINE, Iowa — Three Iowa schools are going to receive a brand new fitness center through the "Don't Quit Fitness Campaign" in Iowa, with two of these being in the greater Quad Cities area.
Back in February, Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education announced a partnership with the National Foundation for Governors' Fitness Councils (NFGFC) to bring new fitness centers to three Iowa schools. The goal of the campaign is "to reverse growing trends in mental illness and childhood obesity," according to the February press release.
This week, two of those new facilities are opening up their doors to students at Aldo Leopold Intermediate in Burlington and Susan Clark Junior High in Muscatine.
“Schools can provide a vital space for students to not only learn in the classroom, but to discover a passion for being active in hobbies or physical competition,” Reynolds said in a press release.
The ribbon cutting for Burlington's new facility took place Monday morning and all 450 students streamed into the new building to take a spin on their new workout equipment. Muscatine will host their own grand opening on Monday afternoon. About 730 students will be able to utilize all the athletic equipment in the facility during school hours.
Each school was awarded $100,000 to create these new facilities, collected through public and private partnerships. According to the release, taxpayer dollars and state funding did not go toward the projects.
Boone Middle School is the third Iowa school receiving a facility.
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