Clanking weights echo through the ARC as treadmills hum and gymgoers get their cardio in. In the distance, a group of high school boys can be seen doing anything but working out.

The ARC is located at the heart of Reed-Keppler Park in West Chicago and opened its doors in the fall of 2014. The facility features a fitness center, locker rooms, a three-court gymnasium, walking and running track, multipurpose gym, meeting rooms and specialized activity spaces like a spin room and dance studio, making it a central recreation hub for the community.

The ARC’s fitness center is open Monday through Thursday from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with membership options that include access to gym equipment, indoor track and open gym courts.

The main entrance features several bike racks for those who prefer to cycle to the facility.

The weight room has two designated benches for regular bench press, located at the back of the fitness center. West Chicago Community High School senior Jiovanni Hernandez once worked out at a different gym but has returned to the ARC because it is more convenient and most of his friends go there.

The ARC sits right next to Turtle Splash Water Park, currently closed for the winter. The park district offers an annual pass to the water park included in its $40 Elite Fitness membership, giving members free summer access to slides and pools.

This location also allows for a variety of jobs, including the front desk, where senior Erik Hoffmann works.

“I started working here since I was already working out, and it’s pretty close by,” Hoffmann said.

Although optimal rest time is about two to three minutes between sets, most teenagers who hit the gym spend far more time resting, often scrolling on TikTok or talking to their friends. Whenever more than three people who know each other are working out at the same time, it is almost guaranteed that not much working out will actually happen.

Michael Sanchez is one of the ARC regulars and is usually either talking to others or on his phone.

“Five to 10 scrolls are optimal in between sets,” Sanchez said.

In the beginning, most members kept to themselves, which resulted in the ARC being a relatively quiet environment for a gym. That changed once many friends realized they went to the same gym and began arriving at the same time. Sophomore Andrew Aiuppa, seen in the background, is one of the newer members at the ARC.

“The ARC is a place of opportunity to get stronger every day,” Aiuppa said.

Senior Landon Rodriguez was a regular at the ARC until wrestling season began. After a strong season, Rodriguez has returned to the gym.

“It took more than a day to build Rome, but it took only a day to take it down,” Rodriguez said.

Seniors Alex Hernandez and Adrian Alanis do cardio on the StairMaster. A majority of ARC members come to the fitness center to focus mainly on cardio, as there is a surplus of cardio machines compared to weight machines. The main demographic seen using the cardio machines is the older generation, while many younger members focus on looking bigger and lifting heavier.

“It is important to include cardio in your workout,” Hernandez, on the right, said.

The ARC has open gym time that is free for any member to use unless all three courts are rented out. The most popular activity in the open gym is basketball. The sport brings plenty of competition, as seen in the background of this image.

Whether lifting, resting, scrolling, or running full court, the ARC has become more than just a fitness center for many teens — it is a daily meeting spot disguised as a workout.