After 58 years, Cornerstone wants to make sure West Hartford knows they’re more than just an aquatic center. 

TechnoGym’s donation of the treadmills and other machines has expanded what the center’s personal trainers are able to do, and gives members options on how they want to exercise, Kerrigan explained. Photo credit: Zoe Pierce

By Zoe Pierce

A year and a half ago, Cornerstone Aquatics Center received a hefty donation of fitness equipment from Technogym – including new spin bikes, treadmills and weights, among other things – and Michael Kerrigan, the center’s general manager, wants the public to see how they’re growing. 

“Over the last year and a half we’ve started opening these different classes to members,” Kerrigan said. “We want to highlight to West Hartford that we’re an athletic option.”

To showcase their variety of available fitness programs, Kerrigan said, Cornerstone will have an open house on Jan. 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. where there will be demos of classes and a meet-and-greet with instructors and personal trainers, and will serve to show the public some recently made changes.

“The community does not really know what’s happening in here,” Kerrigan said, but he believes that once people see the fitness options in Cornerstone, classes will fill up quickly. 

Cornerstone offers semi-weekly classes in Zumba, Pilates, boot camps, water-cycling, and dry spinning. They also continue to offer swim lessons for a variety of levels, and have a staff of personal trainers available.

Bryan Escobar – who’s worked at the center as a swim and Zumba instructor and front desk greeter for five and a half years – is excited to see how the open house will be received. “It’s exciting to see new stuff come up,” said Escobar, who takes classes himself. “Everybody likes to try something new.” 

Escobar also pointed out that their classes serve a variety of purposes, including as a resource for members with arthritis or other physical strains. 

Since opening in 1961, Cornerstone has been a staple in the West Hartford community. The center is most commonly known for the pools, which host many high school swimming and diving events, but as they’ve grown they want the community to see them as more than that. 

In a statement, Brenna Evans, Cornerstone’s business manager, said, “We hope to see our Cornerstone family grow and become a place where we can help our members live a healthy and active lifestyle,” and she wants to encourage community members to come see their new facilities.

“We’re kinda a secret in town,” Kerrigan said. “Our members are aware of events but we could be more popular with the public.” 

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Cornerstone has been tucked in the community since 1961, and even with updates to their facilities, the original building’s integrity and unique architecture has remained. Photo credit: Zoe Pierce

Over the past year Cornerstone has used this room for classes, including yoga and spin. The spin bikes were part of the donation given by TechnoGym. Photo credit: Zoe Pierce

Cornerstone has been tucked in the community since 1961, and even with updates to their facilities, the original building’s integrity and unique architecture has remained. Photo credit: Zoe Pierce