Main campus
The R. Richard Bittner Athletic & Recreation Center
The Bittner Center is a 46,000-square-foot, leading-edge fitness facility that offers:
- A skywalk that provides indoor access throughout the year
- New athletic equipment throughout the facility including free weights, resistance machines and functional fitness equipment
- High-tech cardio equipment equipped with Internet, Dish TV and Preva, a program that allows users to track and log their workouts
- State-of-the-art group fitness areas, including a digital fitness room where users can choose from a wide variety of on-demand fitness programming
- A fully-equipped outdoor fitness area
- A three-lane indoor track
- Two athletic courts equipped for basketball, volleyball, pickleball and more
- A varied schedule of fitness classes, intramural competitions and club sporting events
Enjoy more great photos by viewing our Bittner Center photo gallery.
Access
The Bittner Center is open to all Palmer students, faculty, staff, their spouses and their children between the age of 16 and 26. Children under 16 aren’t permitted in the facility. Retired faculty and their spouses also are welcome to use the Bittner Center.
All users will be required to scan their Palmer ID badge at the main desk, located on the Bittner Center lower level. To obtain a Palmer ID badge, spouses, children and retired faculty members must fill out a request form and have a photo taken. Forms are available at the Bittner Center main desk. Upon approval, a badge will be issued. Bittner Center users aren’t permitted to park in the Visitor Parking Lot, but may use other lots on campus to which they have access. Questions? Contact Ron O’Brien at 563-884-5856 or ron.obrien@palmer.edu.
Hours
The Bittner Center’s hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday, Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.. Break hours at the Bittner Center vary.Please call the main desk at 563-884-5419 to confirm operating hours during holiday and college breaks.
Holiday Break Hours
| Friday | June 14 | 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. |
| Saturday - Sunday | June 15 & 16 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| Monday - Friday | June 17 – 21 | 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Saturday - Sunday | June 22 - 23 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| Monday - Friday | June 24 – 28 | 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Saturday - Sunday | June 29 – 30 | Closed |
| Monday - Wednesday | July 1 - 3 | 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Thursday | July 4 | Closed |
| Friday | July 5 | 1 pm – 5 pm |
| Saturday | July 6 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| Sunday | July 7 | Closed |
| Monday - Friday | July 8 - 12 | 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Saturday - Sunday | July 13-14 | TBA |
The Central High School
pool is open for Bittner Center members on Mondays and Wednesdays, 8-10 p.m.
Classes, Leagues & Club Sports For information on extramural sports clubs, visit our Clubs & Organizations page.
For information about intramural sports, visit our IM Leagues page.
Contact the main desk for a current fitness class schedule at 563-884-5419.
Florida campus
Port Orange Family YMCA
The Florida campus community may utilize the nearby YMCA fitness center.
For information on recreation clubs, visit our Clubs & Organizations page.
Questions? Contact Jason Brewer at jason.brewer@palmer.edu or 386-763-2781.
West campus
On-Campus Fitness Center
The West campus fitness center is available to Palmer students and their immediate families.
For information on extramural sports clubs, visit our Clubs & Organizations page.
Questions? Contact Michael Crump at studentservices.ca@palmer or 408-944-6122.