AFRL fitness park

Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate Deputy Director Col. Scott Maethner cuts the ribbon for AFRL’s quality of life fitness park on Jan. 16. Also pictured, from left, are: Filemon Gallegos, US Army Corps of Engineers project manager; 2nd Lt. Nicholas Quartemont; 2nd Lt. Jonathan Dillon; Barry Bunn, Space Vehicles Directorate deputy director; Michael Gallegos, AFRL Infrastructure Management chief; and Col. David Goldstein, Space Vehicles Directorate director. (Photo by Dennis Carlson)

AFRL opens quality of life fitness park

Published Jan. 27, 2015
By Jeanne Dailey
Air Force Research Laboratory

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Air Force Research Laboratory workers have a new place for fitness activities, as the lab recently opened its quality of life fitness park.

The park is located on the west side of Kirtland in an area called Green Grass Park. It includes a quarter-mile track with four fitness stations. Inside the track is an area large enough to accommodate soccer, football and other fitness activities.

"The fitness park is an outstanding addition to the west side of Kirtland and provides a welcome and convenient fitness option for our workforce," said Col. Scott Maethner, the Directed Energy Directorate deputy director. "I am happy to open the park on behalf of the entire AFRL Kirtland team."

The design allows for walking or running with simultaneous use of the field for other sports activities, as well as satisfying military fitness testing as a quarter-mile track.

"This track will serve both the AFRL and the Space and Missile Systems Center units," said Col. David Goldstein, the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate director and commander of the Phillips Research Site. "With a population greater than 2,000 between both organizations, this fitness path is another means of encouraging our military and civilian workforce to stay fit and improve resiliency."

Goldstein said the track will not only be used for military fitness, but also for commander's calls and other events.

"I am thrilled that our AFRL commander, Maj. Gen. Thomas Masiello, fully supported the funding of this quality of life effort. It's a wonderful morale booster for our employees," Goldstein said.

To determine which of the two AFRL directorates would cut the ribbon, the two most junior officers within the Directed Energy and Space Vehicles Directorates sprinted around the track to great shouts of encouragement. Coming from behind, 2nd Lt. Nicholas Quartemont from the Directed Energy Directorate won the race, beating 2nd Lt. Jonathan Dillon by a hair.