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This year Fulwood Leisure Centre is celebrating its 40^th anniversary.

The multi-purpose fitness centre features two swimming pools, two gyms, three exercise studios, squash courts, sauna and Steam rooms along with facilities for indoor football and badminton.

Fulwood Leisure Centre, ran by Preston City Council, was built to provide sporting facilities for the residents of Preston and has proved successful with around 500,000 people per year using the facilities.

The first stone was laid on 7 March 1974 by Thomas C Nicholson, Chairman of the General Purposes Committee and was officially opened by Councillor Joe Hood JP on 10 May 1978.

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There have many developments of the centre over the years, including the transformation of the upstairs bar into a gym and the activities hall into a bar, then more recently into a dedicated Spinning studio.

The changing rooms have undergone refurbishment into the modern Changing Village and the foyer has also been redesigned.

Councillor Peter Kelly, Cabinet member for culture and leisure, said: “Fulwood leisure centre has certainly seen a lot in its forty years – starting with more than ten million people through its doors!

“That’s a huge number of local residents and visitors accessing our sport and leisure facilities to have fun, get healthy and keep active – which is absolutely fantastic!”

The 40^th anniversary is being commemorated with the Park It event which will take place on Friday 19 August at the Leisure Centre, located on BlackBull Lane, Fulwood.

Park It will feature a variety of fun and games for young people and all the family to enjoy, such as a bouncy castle, sumo suits, smoothie bike and arts and crafts, along with refreshments.

Do you use Fulwood Leisure Centre? Will you be going to ‘Park It’? Let us know in the comments below