The Salvation Army has opened two new fitness facilities as part of its US-focused Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Centres scheme.

The two new facilities - in Kerrville, Texas and Grand Rapids, Michigan - bring the total up to 11.

The US$31m, 48,000sq ft Kerrville facility boasts a multi-activity gymnasium, a group exercise studio and a 4,500sq ft fitness suite with Life Fitness and Precor equipment. It also features a lap pool, a leisure pool with waterslide and a jogging track.

The Grand Rapids site features an 8,000sq ft, 75-station fitness suite with a freeweights area and 30ft climbing tower, as well as a 7,000sq ft aquatic centre, with a two-lane lap pool, a waterslide area, a lazy river and a beach-entry leisure pool.

The outdoor sports and recreation area boasts a high ropes course and facilities for various team sports and ice skating.

In 1998, Mrs Joan Kroc, widow of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc, donated US$90m to The Salvation Army to build a community centre in San Diego, California. When Mrs Kroc passed away in October 2003, she left US$1.5bn to The Salvation Army, the largest single gift to any single charity at one time.