Those looking forward to using the renovated Rec Hall fitness facilities this fall better make sure they've purchased a fitness membership.

Unlike the recreational weight room that preceded it, the new Rec Hall fitness center will not be offered free of charge to Penn State students.

Chip Harrison, Penn State's head strength and conditioning coach, said the scale of the renovations prompted the decision to charge for use of the fitness center.

"It had traditionally been a no-fee facility, and we were able to continue to offer it with much more limited support," Harrison said of the old recreational weight room. "The new fitness center will be open for many, many more hours per week."

The cost of a fitness membership for the fall has also increased, based on changes in the cost of living and because of the new renovations, Harrison said.

A fitness membership for the fall 2006 semester will cost $41, an increase of $3 from spring 2006.

Adam Massaro (senior-public relations) has a fitness membership, but feels that students shouldn't have to pay to use any of the facilities.

"I think that in this situation they should provide it as a free service to promote healthy living and activities," Massaro said.

LaMarr Reeves (freshman-architectural engineering) said the cost doesn't bother him.

"It's just like any other gym," Reeves said. "Ain't nothin' for free in this world."

Paul Ruskin, Office of Physical Plant spokesman, said the project, which includes renovation of the wrestling facilities and construction of the new fitness center, is two weeks ahead of schedule.

"Even though we're ahead, we're still aiming at having everything ready to go for the fall return," Ruskin said.

The new fitness facilities are scheduled to open Sept. 1.

Besides the 16,000-square-foot fitness center's most obvious new feature -- the large glass facade facing North Atherton Street -- the facility will offer more than $1 million worth of new exercise equipment, an amount comparable to the equipment in the White Building's MBNA fitness center, Harrison said.

Harrison said the new fitness center might also help alleviate wait times at the other fitness facilities.

"Some of the crowding issues and things that we've run into in the past will be mitigated at least a little bit," Harrison said. But, he cautioned, "I think it would be unrealistic to say that they would disappear."

The wrestling facilities have also been renovated, an improvement that head wrestling coach Troy Sunderland said is long overdue.

"Our facilities have not been updated for a really long time, and I think that once you walk into the facility it sends the message that wrestling is important," Sunderland said.

The new wrestling facilities will include more practice areas, flat-screen audiovisual equipment to aid with training and a recruitment lounge overlooking the training areas.

"I'm glad that we have extra room to wrestle," wrestling team member Chris Robbins said. "Now I don't have to worry about hitting walls and running into people."