In the fall of 1996, the Healthplex^® Sports Club opened to great hopes and expectations to become one of the finest total health and fitness centers in the region. Ten years later, it’s safe to say that the club has lived up to its original intentions.

While the basics of the club existed 10 years ago when it opened — the fitness floor featuring state-of-the-art equipment, the Olympic-sized swimming pool, the basketball courts, the racquetball, tennis and squash courts — the addition of several programs and events over the past decade have helped to make the club one of the region’s premier sports clubs, a distinction reflected by the approximately 6,000 active members.

“We’re very proud of the accomplishments and achievements of the club, its services and staff over the past 10 years,” says Jim Gallagher, general manger of the Healthplex^® Sports Club. “We will continue to provide innovative and useful programs to the community to remain one of the area’s best health clubs.”

Over the years, the club has:  

• Served as the training facility for the Philadelphia 76ers
• Served as the practice facility and qualifying rounds location for the women’s Advanta Championships
• Been designated as a training site for the United States Olympic Committee designated National A team athletes, alternates and hopefuls
• Been named “Best of the Best” by Club Industry Magazine for its Chester Youth Project, a free weightlifting program based at Community Hospital for middle and high school students in the Chester-Upland School District
• Been named Best Health Club in Philadelphia Magazine’s annual “Best of Philly” awards
• Hosted the Wacky Olympics, which benefits the March of Dimes and several fitness-related programs for underserved youth in Delaware County.

While Gallagher acknowledges that the number of programs and services that have served the community are too numerous to count, he says the programs that have stood out in his mind as having made a valuable and lasting contribution to the community include the annual Asthma Day Camp, which just completed its ninth year; the Ship Shape program for developmentally disabled teens; Healthy Hoops, a community-based program that combines asthma education and basketball targeting children with asthma; and Sonny Hill’s basketball camp program.

The club has also provided many activities and services for children. The Healthplex^® just completed its 10th successful year of summer and sports camps for children and will again offer winter break camp this December. Originally titled Family Fun Day, the club’s Kids Karnival provides families and children with a night’s worth of free fun, entertainment and information about children’s programs at the club. The club continues to offer its facilities for birthday parties and special events, as well as providing child care services at the club’s Rising Stars facility.

Gallagher also adds that he is proud of the development of the wellness programs offered by the club, which are programs designed for those who are not ready or able to exercise independently. In addition to the numerous wellness programs offered at the club, staff members continue to reach out to the community by traveling around Delaware County to provide free, wellness-based presentations at local libraries, firehouses and community centers.

None of this success, Gallagher says, would have been possible without the dedication and expertise of the staff at the club.

“The staff is the key ingredient in the success of the club,” Gallagher says. “We are fortunate to have skilled, compassionate staff members who are passionate about what they do to help people maintain or achieve a healthy lifestyle. The skill level of the staff has increased dramatically over the past ten years. We have a number of staff members who have master’s degrees as well as a number of years of hands-on experience in the field. More of the staff also understands the operations of a business like the Healthplex.”

Gallagher attributes the staff’s advanced skill level and compassion to the recent “explosion” in the demand for personal training at the club.

“In addition, the Healthplex is successful due to our affiliation and integration with the health system, and our attention to cleanliness, safety, customer service and detail,” Gallagher continues. “The Healthplex has a definite advantage over other clubs with the breadth of services that we are able to provide.”

“The Healthplex Sports Club is a first-class facility that has continually met the health and wellness needs of the health system and the community,” says Joan K. Richards, president and chief operating officer of Crozer-Keystone Health System. “I look forward to another ten years of quality service and program development from the staff.”

In recent years, the club has introduced more programs and services that show its ability to meet the needs of its members and the community. Recent additions to the club include the Spa at the Healthplex^®, a full-service spa and hair salon; Healthy Inspirations, a comprehensive weight-loss program; Active Living Every Day, a program that helps people who are not accustomed to exercising get active as well as develop lifetime habits that will improve their overall health; Pilates personal training and equipment; and a family changing room.

Looking ahead, Gallagher says he only sees the club continuing to add to its services and maintaining the high-level of staff professionalism that has contributed to the success of the club.

“I see the Healthplex remaining a family place that provides a high level of customer service to our members,” Gallagher says. “I also see us becoming even more involved in the community and providing fitness programs throughout the area. The club will continue to develop programs for special populations and monitor outcomes of our programs and services.”

For more information about the club, call (610) 328-8888 or visit www.healthplex.net.