By Alicia Couch Payne
Sugar Hill may not have the longest or most detailed history amongst its neighboring cities, but it does possess a strong sense of what it aims to be: a tight-knit, community-oriented city that has something to offer everyone. It is with this goal in mind that the E-Center was opened.
Dubbed the “new heart of downtown Sugar Hill”, the E-Center presents several enticing features; with concerts at the Bowl, plays and movies at the Eagle Theater, delicious restaurants and shopping soon to come, there is truly something for everyone. The Center’s visionary leaders even planned for a new and easily accessible recreation area.
The E-Center’s gym celebrated its grand opening on January 2nd, 2019. Within the complex, there is the six-goal gymnasium, a second-story walking trail, a banquet hall, a conference room, lockers, and an impressive workout room boasting weights, treadmills, ellipticals, and other state of the art gym equipment. For those Sugar Hill residents that register with the gym, these facilities are accessed free of charge. Members receive a card they scan each time they use the space and those who do not live within city limits can register for a mere $35.00 a year. As of April 5th, 2019, the recreation department has enrolled 4,494 citizens for gym membership.
Sugar Hill resident Andrea Armstrong is one of these members. “I have heard so many people say good things about [the E-Center gym],” she explained, “and it’s free, so I decided to sign up.” Armstrong works in Duluth and says a great deal of her co-workers reside in Sugar Hill and encouraged each other to get memberships.
The Recreation Department of the City of Sugar Hill hosts a wide array of classes at the Gym complex for anyone (including non-Sugar Hill residents) who signs up and pays the class fee. Types of classes range from dance — including tap and ballet, Argentine tango, ballroom and social dance — to yoga, barre, men’s fitness, Zumba, and even karate and self-defense. Surprisingly in demand are the center’s etiquette classes, as well as, classes focusing on retirement and college planning, namely Understanding and Maximizing Your Social Security Benefits, Maximize Your College Application and Personal Essay, and How to Pay for Your Dream College.
Mark Clarke, a Sugar Hill resident, has been a member since January 7th, 2019. He says that he visits almost every day to play basketball or use the cardio equipment. He praised the gym area, commenting on its cleanliness and “has a community feel that most gyms lack.”
For more information about the gym at the E-Center, including the classes they offer, please visit https://cityofsugarhill.com/departments/parks-and-recreation/.
