FeedsRecreation center opening under way
Though the city of Romulus is touting an official April 1 opening at the new recreation facility, the activity is already under way at the new building.
Romulus Athletic Center personnel are busy signing up members from the city and from several other areas, and most are impressed with the level of activity at the new center, said Councilman William Crova.
“I stopped off at the recreation center to take a look at he finished building and to see about a membership,” he said. “I was very impressed.”
As of this week, the facility located at Northline and Wayne roads is fully staffed and operational, but the management at the facility hopes to sign up more residents at the grand opening, which is slated for April 1, said Mayor Alan Lambert.
“We had quite a few people there signing up for memberships,” he said.
The Athletic Center is the first new municipal building constructed in the city in many years.
The $18 million building was formerly a warehouse facility owned by the Overhead Crane Co. The project was financed by Tax Increment Finance Authority funds.
The facility, when it opens, will have a main gym, a teen gym, nautilus equipment, an Olympic-sized pool, a kiddie pool, a hot tub, a fountain-like pool, a one-tenth-mile track, a rock climbing wall, rest and relaxation areas, a banquet hall, a café and meeting rooms.
The 89,000 square foot facility features an 8,000 square foot workout area with treadmills, elliptical machines, bicycles and free weights.
The city was hoping for a 2007 opening, but backorders on the tile in the swimming areas, and some other unexpected issues, delayed the opening of the center.
At the site Tuesday, it appeared some outdoor landscaping was still under way.
Romulus City Council members last week approved a management agreement with Virginia-based Rink Management to operate all aspects of the facility. Rink hired nearly 100 employees to man the center.
The city is hopeful that the number of memberships – which for a family cost $400 per year – will pay for the $84,000 per year Rink contract, payroll costs and other costs associated with operating the facility.
Initially, an endowment from the general fund approved by Romulus City Council members paid start-up costs, but the long-term goal is for the facility to be self funding through memberships and incremental activities like day passes for people not willing to commit to a full membership.
For more information or to inquire about a membership, call the Romulus Athletic Center at (734) 942-2223.
