It has been a little over a year since the Philip Heit Center for Healthy New Albany opened as the community’s health anchor.
Success is evident, particularly in such a short time. Still, there are residents who haven’t visited the Heit Center yet, and even those who use it regularly for one activity don’t know everything else that goes on inside it. How have the Heit Center partners collaborated to create an unmatched personal health experience and a culture of health? There are many answers, but I wanted to concentrate on five different aspects.
Fitness Memberships
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Health & Fitness Center now boasts more than 2,000 members because of its holistic approach to fitness and wellness. This isn’t just a place to work out. Individual fitness programs are created by highly trained experts and based on a combination of one’s fitness goals and his or her medical ability to attain them. Impressive features and services abound, including state-of-the-art fitness machines offering mobile tracking of one’s progress, an opportunity for one-on-one wellness coaching, a lap pool and warm water exercise pool, and more than 50 group exercise classes. All of this activity occurs in an upscale, clean and friendly environment. Parents can even drop off their kids (starting at three months of age) at the on-site Kids Club while they work out. Stop in for a tour or call 614-658-1820 for more information.
Programs
Community programming is an important part of Healthy New Albany’s mission to create a culture of health. Healthy New Albany offers a variety of classes, some in collaboration with Wexner Medical Center, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and other community partners. Activities can range from cooking classes to a Healthy Halloween party (one of the most popular 2015 events). Check in with the Healthy New Albany program manager on Tuesdays or Thursdays, visit www.heitcenter.com or call 614-685-6435 for more information. And remember, you don’t have to be a fitness center member or live in New Albany to register for Healthy New Albany programs.
Health Care Services
Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital both offer clinical expertise and responsive care teams in the areas of family medicine, sports medicine, physical therapy, orthopedics and integrative medicine. In the last six months, I started seeing my OSU primary care doctor at the Heit Center; my daughter utilized Nationwide Children’s sports and orthopedic physical therapy services for a volleyball injury; and my son, who broke his leg playing hockey in December, was operated on by an OSU doctor who also happens to work with the U.S. Olympic team. My son is now going through physical therapy at the Heit Center. All my health care experiences at the Heit Center have been superb.
Room Rentals
Rooms at the Heit Center are available for corporate and personal events. Food and alcohol are options at some events. If you are interested in reserving a room, contact Healthy New Albany at 614-685-6344.
Relax
Every day, someone comes to the Heit Center simply to read and relax by the lounge fireplace or the patio fire pit. The Heit Center is free and open to the public, and it is a great place to bring a cup of coffee or purchase something from the Zest kiosk (set to open in March).
All the Heit Center partners invite you to check it out if you haven’t already, or go to www.heitcenter.com to learn more. Even if you don’t visit the Heit Center for programs, health care services or fitness, it is improving your quality of life by serving as a catalyst for more Village Center restaurants and retail choices.
How? The thousands of daily Heit Center users and visitors are creating the foot traffic necessary to make the Market & Main project a reality (think Hudson 29 Kitchen + Drink, Mellow Mushroom, sambaFRESH, banks and other retail and professional office space, with more to come later this year as a second phase is constructed). These are choices residents have wanted for years.
Scott McAfee is public information officer for the city of New Albany. Feedback welcome at ssole@cityscenemediagroup.com.
