For the past seven years I had a gym membership to 24 Hour Fitness. But when a 5-10 minute wait to get on a treadmill became standard, I decided the membership wasn’t worth the thirty some bucks I paid per month.

I went without a gym for awhile, which worked out because summer nights allowed me to go to Wash Park or City Park after work while feeling safe and warm. But after a run on the High Line Canal near Dekoevand Park in Littleton one dark and cold evening in early November, I decided I needed somewhere indoors to work out.

I knew I didn’t want to belong to 24 Hour Fitness, or any gym that gets super crowded at the hours I work out, and I didn’t want to spend the money on a high-end gym.

At a friend’s recommendation, I looked into the City of Denver’s recreation centers. One thing is for sure: a membership is very affordable and you have access to 29 facilities. An annual membership is only $150.00 which works out to $12.50 per month. I opted for a 3 month membership so I could get a feel for the facilities first.

Though the centers aren’t large – as compared to the Lance Armstrong 24 Hour Fitness in Lowry that I was going to - the facilities have everything I need and aren’t exuberantly busy. Unlike 24 Hour Fitness, there are several facilities that are conveniently located for me too, especially the following:

Eisenhower Recreation Center
University Hills neighborhood
4300 E Dartmouth Ave, Denver, CO 80222
303-692-5650

Since I work near the Denver Tech Center and live in Uptown, fighting traffic is a daily task. When traffic is bad, I often take backroads which eventually dump me out on Colorado Boulevard at Hampden Avenue, which I usually take back to the highway. The Eisenhower Recreation Center is located in the University Hills neighborhood near Colorado and Hampden Ave – directly located on my backroads route.

Twentieth Street Recreation Center
Five Points neighborhood
1011 20th St, Denver, CO 80202
303-295-4430

Like I mentioned, I live in Denver’s Uptown neighborhood, so the Twentieth Street Recreation Center, located at 20th and Curtis Street, is only 1 mile from my house. The other day I walked there and back, so I was able to get a warm-up in before I hit the treadmill.

There are also facilities located in the Montclair, Highlands, Washington Park and University Park neighborhoods, which are all in areas of town I frequent.

The recreation centers aren't just gyms either. A membership gives you access to pools, fitness classes, arts, cultural and education programs, summer camps, youth after-school programs too.

If you sign up for a 6 month membership in the month of January, you get 3 months free. I am going to do this, which will mean that I'll have an annual gym membership for $112.50. What a deal! Now I just have to make sure I go.

To learn more about the Denver Recreation Centers visit the Denver Government website here.