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Article by Elena Ferrarin
Communications Coordinator
Northbrook Park District
When Judy Armgardt moved back to Northbrook from New Mexico five years ago, she immediately set off to find a great fitness center.
“I struggled to find a place I really liked,” Armgardt said. “I went to a lot of the gyms around here, but nothing was clicking. That’s until I found out that Techny Prairie Activity Center was being built, and I saw the pictures. I joined before it even opened, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made!”
“The facility is so bright and beautiful, and such a fun place to exercise. And the staff is so nice,” she added. “I love it here. I just can’t say enough about it.”
Armgardt is among faithful members of Techny Prairie Activity Center (TPAC), the Northbrook Park District’s state-of-the-art facility that opened its doors January 1, 2021, at 180 Anets Drive within scenic Techny Prairie Park and Fields in Northbrook.
To celebrate its 5th anniversary, TPAC is offering a month filled with special events opens in new tab, including an anniversary party open to the public on January 10.
The initiative is a way to thank members for helping make TPAC such a special place, as well as an opportunity to showcase the facility to the larger community, Northbrook Park District Superintendent of Athletics and Fitness Meri Shea said.
“We know there are so many fitness facility options out there, and we strive every day to provide what is truly an amazing facility for the community in Northbrook,” Shea said.
“All our staff members are professional and welcoming, from customer service to the great instructors that teach classes and all the certified personal trainers. TPAC is a fantastic place for anyone to meet their health and fitness goals, and we are excited to celebrate in January.”
The facility features a 6,000-square-foot fitness floor with cardio, strength and functional fitness equipment, two spacious studios that hold more than 50 group classes a week, an 8-lap-per-mile elevated indoor walking track, and a 10,000-square-foot gymnasium with open times for basketball, volleyball and pickleball.
TPAC’s thoughtful layout ensures that the facility never feels crowded, even at peak times, and meets the needs of all types of users, from youth to seniors and people with accessibility requirements, Shea said.
Boasting a forward-thinking design, TPAC was built as a Net Zero Energy building, with 833 solar panels on its roof that produce the energy needed to operate the facility.
Its opening in 2021 was the culmination of a yearslong project to build a modern space for community members of all ages to work out, play and connect, said Northbrook Park District Director of Recreation Eileen Loftus.
“So many people worked on this project, from architects to project managers and countless Park District staff,” Loftus said. “It was incredibly thrilling for us to be able to present this beautiful facility to the public, and enhance the quality of health and fitness offerings available to our community.”
Techny Prairie Activity Center is located at 180 Anets Drive, Northbrook. For more information about special events for members and nonmembers throughout January, visit nbfitness.org or call 847-897-6180.