PJC to purchase Paris Fitness & Aquatics building

Posted on Oct 23, 2012 in PJC by Jeff Parish

Paris Junior College is set to purchase the south campus of Paris Fitness & Aquatics Center.

Swim teams for North Lamar and Paris high schools will continue to use the building for practice, according to Dr. Pam Anglin, the college president. That’s welcome news as both schools had expressed concern about what would happen if it closed.

“Paris Junior College will not add a swim team since other community colleges in Texas do not have teams,” Anglin said. “We will not be in competition with Paris Fitness and Aquatics or other fitness centers in town but provide additional physical fitness opportunities and for our students.”

PJC has been looking at purchasing the old Aerofit building for about $400,000. Paris Regional Medical Center had first right of refusal, so the college had to wait about a month before moving forward, Anglin said.
Anglin updated the board of regents Monday about inspections of the building, and PJC plans to move forward on closing.

“The building will provide space for our volleyball team to practice so that the gym on campus is freed up for basketball team use,” Anglin said. “The facility will provide the college with the ability to offer numerous new physical education courses that we don’t currently have the space to offer, such as racquetball, handball, swimming, weight lifting, volleyball and aerobics. It will also provide us space for new continuing education and community service classes to be offered, including new options for our kids college in the summer.”

Paris Fitness & Aquatics announced earlier this year it would shutter the campus after finishing expansion of its north campus before the first of the year.

Tags: featured