WEST VALLEY CITY -- Nancy Day is the city's new mover and shaper.
She was recently hired as the director of the newly named West Valley City Family Fitness Center now under construction. Her first order of business is to make sure the facility takes shape by the Oct. 1 opening."I'm very happy about coming to work for the city and the prospect of serving the community where I live," Day said.
Day, a 38-year-old mother of five, has lived in West Valley City for almost 13 years. She spent the past nine years as the intramural sports director at the University of Utah while pursuing a master's degree there.
She jumped at the opportunity to head the city's fitness center because she wanted "to do more community recreation."
The Family Fitness Center going up at 5350 W. 3100 South will focus on recreation for the entire family. The center will feature a climbing wall, water slide, pool, weight room, track and basketball and racquetball courts. It also will have aerobic and dance rooms.
Unique to this facility will be a so-called "edutainment" center, which is a 6,000-square-foot education/entertainment room for children under 12. The idea is to mix play with learning, Day said. For instance, there would be a play grocery store.
"It's taking grown-up concepts and turning them into play," Day said.
And Day wants everybody, no matter what age, to have fun.
She has experience at doing that. During the summer of 1987, Day worked as the assistant manager for Wild Waters, a water slide park in Odgen.
Born in Burbank, Calif., Day moved with her family to Utah years ago. In 1981, she graduated from Ricks College with an associate's degree in arts and sciences. She also specialized in ballroom dancing.
She moved to Indiana for a short time before attending Utah State University, where she received a bachelor's degree in recreation in 1988. While attending the U. for her master's degree in recreation, she gained work experience in intramural sports, administering 100 recreation programs.
At West Valley City, Day will be responsible for daily operations, scheduling indoor and outdoor activities with the help of coordinators. She will earn $45,000 a year.
Kevin Astill, the city's parks and recreation director, said the city is fortunate to have her on board.
"She has already hit the road running," he said. "The experience and knowledge she brings with her will be put to good use in the new Family Fitness Center.
Day can't wait for the opening.
"I was equally excited about this facility as a resident," Day said. As the director of the Family Fitness Center, she said she hopes to make a difference in providing fun recreational opportunities for the community.