Surrounding the Buffalo State campus, students can find many different areas to help maintain a routine exercise regimen or just get some fresh air with friends.
For students at Buffalo State the school provides free services, such as the fitness center, Kissinger pool and free skate at the ice rink.
One issue students say they have with these services is that the pool and ice rink are only open to the public during select hours, and most people say they don’t have time to go to the gym on a regular basis, if they have time to go at all.
“I’ve been to the gym maybe once or twice since I started going here,” said sophomore criminal justice major Anthony Smith. “It’s a nice place, I just don’t find the time between classes, friends and work.”
What students don’t realize is that they don’t have to go to the gym to get exercise. There is a community around the school that is full of ways to stay fit and healthy, while still making time for everything else in your life.
Students can go outside for a run or to ride a bike. Even just taking a walk is considered exercise, and it’s a great way to get to know the community around the school.
One of the most popular places students said they like to go with friends, or sometimes by themselves, is Delaware Park. They said there are many things to explore in the park, and it’s a great place to get exercise while still spending time with friends.
“I love the rose garden,” said junior Chantal Mitchell. “I go there with my friends when school first starts every year.”
Within the park is Hoyt Lake, which covers a large portion of the half of the park located closest to campus.
Around the lake is a large trail where students can go for a run, bike ride, or just walk with friends and get some fresh air.
Students say the park is the perfect place for a good snowball fight, and there are lots of hills for sledding once the snow begins to fall.
Another way students get active is to just start walking around the local community. All students are provided free bus passes at the beginning of the year, but say they like to take advantage of the weather while they still can.
“I walk to work whenever I can,” said Joshua Johnson, a freshman undeclared major. “I don’t have time to go to the gym as much as I’d like so it’s my only other alternative.”
Students find there are many unique places up and down Elmwood, including shops, restaurants and cafes.
“I love the stores on Elmwood,” said sophomore undeclared major Shannon Reed. “They have clothes that you really wouldn’t find anywhere else.”
Walking from store to store, and accumulating more stuff as you go along, is a great way students are getting some exercise while still doing the stuff they actually enjoy.
By taking a walk, students say they discover a whole new side of Buffalo they didn’t even know was there, and get some exercise out of it too.
Matt Schmidt can be reached by email at schmidt.record@live.com.