Rec Center Profits Expected to Grow in 2011

The celebrated its best year yet, boasting more than $240,000 in profits in 2010.

Officials say they expect the trend to continue in 2011.

“I think that (the rec center) is a jewel in the community,” said Sal DiCaro, Macomb Township Parks and Recreation director. “People appreciate what we do here and they know it’s a safe, clean place to bring their families and they continue coming here for the price.”

By the end of 2010, the center had 41,661 daily admissions, hosted 564 birthday parties and had a total of 208 facility rentals. The center currently has 5,128 members and 1,249 senior members.

“I think our staff does a great job, we have a safe, clean, family-friendly facility and our equipment is state-of-the-art; we try to promote that,” DiCaro said.

The staff has high hopes and expectations for 2011, as well.

“2011 should be certainly as good, if not better,” said Michelle Duda, recreation program leader. “People are very impressed with our department offerings, so they come back and often bring people with them. With the economy still dragging, families can have a great time here without going too far from home.”

According to the monthly admissions reports, January 2011 brought in 3,670 resident daily admissions and 1,649 nonresident daily admissions.

February’s success proved that the numbers are continuing to grow with a total of 3,828 resident daily admissions and 1,825 nonresident daily admissions.

“We’re cautiously optimistic that the numbers will always at least remain the same,”
DiCaro said. “We’ve been steadily going up for the past seven years.”

In 2011, Macomb residents can look forward to many new and exciting opportunities.

The will open with a number of new features on April 15.
Three baseball diamonds, three soccer fields, two sand volleyball courts and a one-mile walking path will become available to the public with the opening of the park.

DiCaro said that these new park features are very necessary and will bring great benefits to Macomb. The children’s baseball, soccer and football teams will have more playing fields and the walking path will get people to come out and enjoy the park at their own pace.

There are also many new additions to the R.E.A.C.H. recreation event catalogue for children and adults of all ages. Several kids camps and a great lineup of free summer events are on the agenda for 2011.

The center has several classes with higher enrollment as the year continues. Duda said that the tumble and dance programs both have record high enrollment. A January report showed that the first session of winter swim lessons, which began Jan. 10, had 381 enrolled, an increase of 150 students over the same time last year.

The center is also offering new yoga classes, including Baby & Me Yoga, Kids Yoga, and Teen Girls Yoga.

In addition, an Adaptive Recreation Program for the special needs population is taking off at the center. Duda said she hopes the word gets out so there is enough participation to sustain these new programs.

“We always strive to deliver very high-quality and unique programs and events at very affordable prices, if not for free, so that families have many great opportunities for fun, fitness and spending time together,” she said.