LITTLE SILVER — Red Bank Regional High School’s (RBR) new 2,700-square-foot fitness center features state-of-the art equipment and can accommodate up to 70 students working out.
The project came to fruition through a financial commitment by the Board of Education to fund the construction and from community donations to furnish the space. The BUC Backer Foundation and BUC Backer booster club raised over $75,000 to provide fitness equipment. The additional $1,070,000 came from the district’s capital improvement fund.
“As the saying goes, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ It definitely took our community to build this facility. Our kids will grow to be stronger athletes and better citizens when they leave RBR because they will understand how to work out and lead healthier lives,” said RBR Athletic Director Del Dal Pra.
Del Pra is hoping to attract additional donations to augment the existing stations and weight equipment and increase the fitness center’s capacity to 100 people.
During the day, physical education classes visit the facility to instruct students how to use the equipment. Lesson plans are being written to incorporate the use of the facility into next year’s curriculum.
In addition to the facility, the RBR’s Board has committed funds to hire a strength and conditioning coach to staff the facility after school each day next year.
“I believe this helped RBR obtain something great that has been talked about long before I came to the program,” said Nick Giglio, RBR’s head football coach.
“In the short time it has been open, our new fitness center has been getting used by male/female athletes from all sports, plus non-athletes from all of our many great communities who are looking to work out after school. This tremendous facility will benefit our entire student population for many years to come,” he said.