Attendance has decreased at the Fresno State Student Recreation Center (REC) since the facility reopened in August 2021.

“Before the pandemic, a rough estimate of the average students using the recreational center was 900 to 1,000 students per day, and now it is [averaging] 600,” said Micolette Peña, operation supervisor at the REC Center. 

As of Monday, masks are no longer required at the REC Center.  Sanitizer stations and disinfectant sprays are available on each level of the center in different zones. Staff members also encouraged students to clean the machines after their workouts, and masks are available at the front desk. 

Every night when the REC Center closes, employees do a deep clean of all the machines, according to Peña. 

She said the REC Center offers more than “just fitness equipment.”

“When people think of a gym, some people are intimidated, but there are other activities available,” Peña said.

The REC Center offers a variety of fitness classes, including racquetball, pingpong, cornhole, pickleball and badminton. Four courts are available for basketball, volleyball and badminton. Locker rooms are available for students to secure their belongings.

It also offers  intramural sports for students to play on a recreational team with their fellow classmates. 

Fitness swimming is also being offered at the Fresno State Aquatics Center.

Due to COVID-19 safety procedures, some of these activities are modified and limited for social distancing. 

“I’ve been coming to the REC Center ever since the first day of school,” Luke Flores, an 18-year-old freshman, said. 

Flores said he enjoyed playing basketball with his friends in between classes and running on the treadmill. Being vaccinated and seeing students wear their masks made him feel comfortable and safe in the REC Center. 

Basketball activities had been suspended in 2021, but as of Monday, basketball activities are back. 

Flores said he has been playing basketball at Melody Park instead. 

“I recommend everyone to come to the REC Center if you’re a student, since it’s so useful and such a great tool to take advantage of,” Flores said. “I hope when COVID-19 gets better, I can join a basketball league in the intramural sports.”

“A great idea for the recreation center to attract more students would be to extend their hours since some students have work or stay late from studying at the library,” said Jenny Mao, 26, who is returning to campus for grad school in the fall after taking a break this semester

The REC Center is open Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Mondays were recorded to be the busiest day, according to Peña. Right before opening, or before closing is a good time to come to the gym when there are less people, she also said”‹”‹.

“I prefer to go to an outside gym instead of the REC Center, because not all of my friends go to Fresno State,” Mao said. 

She has a three-year membership at Planet Fitness along with some of her friends who encourage her in and out of the gym. 

“I have gone to the REC Center for the first few years at Fresno State for cardio, weight resistance training, basketball and table tennis,” Alex Moun, 23, a fifth-year student, said. 

Since everything was closed during COVID-19,  Moun did not have a place to work out at. Once businesses started opening up again, he found another gym outside of school and got a  membership since the REC Center was initially still closed. 

“The Iron Office, a private gym I go to, is open 24 hours, has kilo plates, more deadlift platforms and squat racks, dumbbells that go up to 200 pounds, complimentary massage guns, a posing room and the community is very close,” Moun said. “The REC Center is still a great place to go to with the indoor track and courts.” 

“As far as competition goes, whether students use the REC Center or an outside gym source, the sole focus is just to be here for the Fresno State students and faculty to take advantage of the facility,” Peña said. 

The REC Center is working on increasing its social media presence to give people a better idea of what is offered in the facility, according to Peña. She said that, besides lifting weights, people can get involved in other activities, socialize and get to know other students safely.

“We would love to see more students use the facility. We are here for them, and this is the home of the Bulldogs,” Peña said.