Local Activities to Help You Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

Year after year, the top New Year’s resolutions around the country center on improving health, through more exercise, better eating, and losing weight. If improved fitness is one of your personal goals for 2026, here are some of the resources available to help in Council.

The Gym. Did you know Council has its own gym? Located inside the Rec Center at the top of the hill, 104 S Galena St, the Gym is open for members 24/7 with a member key card. Membership is $40 a month for adults, and $35 for Seniors, with discounts after three months. The Gym is owned and operated by Adams County Parks and Recreation, and all of the proceeds go directly to Parks and Rec, who also runs the Rec Center. Parks and Rec Board member Lana Wessels said most of the funds go directly towards the heating bill at the Rec Center, which can be thousands of dollars each month.

If a gym membership isn’t your thing, there are many other ways to stay active around town. Adams County Parks and Rec also offers several classes and community sports. One of the most popular classes around town is Fit and Fall Proof, which is taught by personal trainers Troy and Katrina Davis. Fit and Fall Proof is a fall prevention program offered in partnership with Southwest District Health, and it is wildly popular in Council, both with seniors and other community members. Classes are Monday and Wednesdays from 12:00-1:00 p.m. and are free for the community. The program is built around 10 week sessions and they are currently finishing week 8, and will take a short break before starting the next session on January 19th.

Pickleball is another popular sport right now, and the Council Valley Pickleball group, which started out meeting at the park, now meets three times a week at the Rec Center, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Beginners are always welcome, as are donations for the Rec Center. Other donation based community sports at the Rec Center include Volleyball at 7:45 on Thursdays, and Community Basketball at 7:00 p.m. on Sundays. The Rec Center is also open for walking every weekday morning from 8-9:00 a.m..

If martial arts is more up your alley there are currently two options in town, Brazilian Jujitsu, and Muay Thai Kickboxing. Both hold classes at the Rec Center, both teams engage in competitions, and both are quite the workout! The Council Jujitsu Academy has adult and children’s classes, Adults are Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00-11:15 a.m. and Friday from 11:15-12:30, and Kids are Tuesday 6:45-7:45 p.m., Thursday 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and 6:45-7:45 p.m., as well as Friday 11:15-12:30. Kickboxing is on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, All ages class at 7:30 and Adults at 8:30 p.m..

If dance is something that sounds more interesting, Zumba is a great workout and is Monday and Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. at the Skating Rink (Exhibit Hall) at the Adams County Fairgrounds. There is also a new American folk Dance class at the Skating Rink on Fridays at 1:00. Open to ages five through adults, the class is taught by Mesa resident Elizabeth Hunter and is a lot of fun for both children and adults. No experience is necessary.

So if one of your New Year’s resolutions is to be more active, there are a variety of offerings locally to help you achieve those goals in our wonderful little community.