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I Want ToParkTalk Blog: Fort Hill Fitness Stories
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Fort Hill Activity Center continues to be one of the most popular Naperville Park District facilities since opening in 2016, as thousands of visitors utilize the wide array of indoor recreation amenities year-round. It is a great resource for individuals looking to improve their wellbeing and stay active. From an indoor track to an over 8,600 square-foot fitness center and so much more, Fort Hill offers something to fit nearly everyone’s health and wellness needs. With over 167,000 visitors in 2023 alone, every patron has their own unique fitness journey and motivation. Whether it’s training for an athletic competition, recovering from an injury, or staying active in general, Fort Hill Activity Center welcomes and supports everyone that walks through their doors. Since everyone has a unique story, some of our current Fort Hill Fitness members were kind enough to share theirs and explain how Fort Hill helps them achieve their goals.
Brian Sanford
Brian Sanford and his wife Michelle moved to Illinois after Brian retired from a 34-year law enforcement career in California. They have been a part of the Fort Hill community for about a year and a half, and that is where you can find Brian three to four times a week. He has always enjoyed being active, and when he isn’t at Fort Hill, he enjoys rucking – an activity that involves walking with a weighted rucksack or backpack.
“I have always tried to stay in shape. However, with odd hours from my job, it was sometimes difficult to maintain a routine,” said Brian. “Now that I’m retired, I can focus much better on staying active.”
Most of Brian’s workouts at Fort Hill Activity Center are in instructor-led classes, such as Fit 45, Body Pump and TRX. He enjoys having an instructor push him physically and enjoys the supportive class environment. Brian stated he has had struggled with back issues in the past, but the classes have assisted him with getting better and achieving his fitness goals.
“I would say my overall goals would be to continue with strength training and maintaining good mobility,” Brian continued. “The instructors are a wealth of knowledge, and I have learned a lot from them.
Being as active as they are, Brian and Michelle have belonged to many gyms and fitness facilities. While those facilities met their needs, what makes Fort Hill Activity Center stand out for them is the friendly community. The sincerity of the instructors and staff have fostered a welcoming family environment, something that made their move across the country easier.
“Often times when we miss a few classes, we will get an email wondering if we are okay,” Brian stated. “That is a nice touch that you probably would not get at another gym.”
Michelle Sanford
Michelle Sanford’s fitness journey began when her children went off to college, and since then she’s taken an active role in being fit and active. As Southern California transplants, Michelle says the welcoming community at Fort Hill Activity Center made her and Brian’s transition to Illinois seamless. She works out at Fort Hill at least four days a week with her husband, utilizing all the facility’s amenities including the group fitness classes.
“I’m one of those people that signs up for a class days ahead,” said Michelle. “Although I’ve used most amenities at the gym, I prefer participating in the class environment. I guess I like people telling me what to do!”
While Michelle has always been a member of a fitness community including CrossFit, boot camp, and small boutique-type gyms, Fort Hill has stood out among the rest. Being a member of Fort Hill has helped her achieve her goals to build and maintain strength, improve balance and improve heart health, allowing her to keep up with her adult children and grandchild. From top to bottom, Fort Hill Activity Center has been a great community for her and Brian.
“Fort Hill is a welcoming community of great people from the desk personnel, the attendants that prepare the studios, and the instructors,” Michelle explained. “Everyone plays a part to make the center the best it can be. I’m so glad we found this gem, and I always recommend it to people.”
Sumaira Hunani
Our last member highlighted in this blog is Sumaira Hunani, who has been a member of Fort Hill Activity Center for about a year; she manages to fit in about two workouts a week. Despite having a hectic schedule, she still finds time to participate in group fitness classes, where instructors make sure she gets the most out of their classes and even give her the occasional healthy eating tip.
“They force me to be engaged and get a good workout, and it’s nice to see familiar faces and interact with the instructors,” said Sumaira. “Instructors like Kim Monti know when to give me a push in the right direction, to challenge myself and build on my strength and endurance.”
Sumaira’s fitness goals are simple: enjoy some self-care whenever she can fit it in. She stated she has dealt with more health issues than she should at her age, but Fort Hill has helped her become healthier and maintain that good health and wellness since joining.
“I joined Fort Hill because I am a single mom that felt like my body needed some care,” Samaira continued. “Life is so unexpected and there is never enough time to take care of my health unless I insist on doing so.”
Sumaira highlights the benefits of all the amenities at Fort Hill, especially the variety of group exercise classes offered. From yoga to Zumba to body conditioning, she is able to target different areas through incredibly different workouts guided by helpful, encouraging instructors. Another amenity Sumaira finds unique is the childcare aspect of Fort Hill. The Fort Childcare and Play Area is available year-round for children aged 3 months to 11 years old. This accommodation is perfect for parents who are looking for child supervision while they fit in a quick workout or class in their day.
“I have learned proper ways to perform exercises and feel immediate results,” Sumaira concluded. “I would definitely recommend others to join because I absolutely feel this is a great membership to have and a great place to be a part of.”
Your Wellness is Our Mission
Brian, Michelle and Sumaira are just three members of Fort Hill Activity Center who each have different motivations and goals when it comes to enhancing their health and fitness. A common theme between all three members is the appreciation of the sense of community Fort Hill provides across the facility, from the staff to the other members and everyone in between.
Reo Ross, a group exercise instructor at Fort Hill, has been a fitness professional for five years and also is a competitive body builder. Reo enjoys leading group classes such as Glutes and Abs, Core Strength and Fit 45, and his passion for fitness has helped individuals grow stronger.
“I love the energy and how many people you can impact at once,” Reo said. “I always tell them that the burn is temporary, that I’m right here working out with you so keep pushing.”
Fort Hill Activity Center enjoys an active and engaged membership that is enthusiastic about the facility and all it offers. They will support you with a smile and maybe share a helpful tip that can set you up for success. No matter your objectives, background or motivation, your wellness is our mission at Fort Hill. We love working with our fantastic community to push them a little further and make a positive impact on every one of our participant’s wellness journeys!
