New Recreation Center opens doors to outside community

University of Cincinnati students and faculty won't be the only ones enjoying the new Campus Recreation Center, slated to open Jan. 23.

The entire Cincinnati community will have the opportunity to be a member of one of the city's newest recreation facilities.

"We're really excited about bringing the community on campus to work out in one of the premier facilities in the tri-state," said Lee Ann Werner, associate director of Marketing and Membership for the center.

Any person who wants to become a member and is not a student, faculty member or alumni, may join by paying an annual fee of $775 or can purchase a pro-rated, short-term membership.

Full-time UC students are already considered members, because their membership is paid for through the campus life fee included in tuition costs.

Part-time students will have to pay $40 per quarter, and co-op students $80 per quarter to make up for the portion of Campus Life Fee they are not paying. Faculty will also have to pay a fee for membership.

When the project started in 1997, the university decided to allow those in the community to purchase memberships so they could enjoy the amenities of the new complex, which will be 350,000 square feet, including an immense weight room and personal training to the fitness classes, juice bar and restaurant.

Membership fees are expected to help pay for the $101.4 million spent on the construction of the facility.

"The Campus Recreation center is an auxiliary service and therefore needs to generate revenue to balance off our operating expenses," Werner said.

However, the most important aspect of letting the community join in on the center is to fulfill part of UC President Nancy Zimpher's UC|21 plan, which aims to forge key relationships and partnerships with the community, according to Werner.

"One of our objectives is to reach out into the community... to make a connection," Werner said. "Faculty and students have really started to make this opportunity known in the community surrounding the university."

She also said that the university has a longstanding relationship with the surrounding area and that this is a wonderful opportunity to continue the relationship.

Community members will be able to park in University Garage and the Campus Green Garage when they use the facility.

However, they will have to pay daily or buy a pass, as this service is not included in the membership.

Werner said that crowded parking will not be an issue, and the extended hours will help make sure of this.

New Rec Center hours run from 6 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. on Friday. Many members will come before and after work, according to Werner. Since prime-time hours for parking are from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., traffic will flow a bit better, according to Parking Service officials.

An over-crowded recreation facility should not be an issue, either, according to Werner. The Shoemaker Center is 17,000 sq. feet, compared to the new fitness floor, which is 17,000 sq. feet alone.

The new workout facility has six times as many treadmills, seven times as many bikes and 45 more fitness classes than the old facility.

With these additions, Werner said that she does not see competition for facilities or machines in the center.

"The reason for the larger numbers is to accommodate quantity as well as diversity," Werner said.

The Rec Center's computer programming currently allows officials to get a good idea of the member's demographics. By this, they will have a better insight on which programming and services will be most desired by the members, according to Werner.

Since most members are expected to be full-time students, they will reflect this in what they offer.

If a problem arises with competition for the use of facilities in the new Rec Center, Campus Services executives would work with Recreation Center staff to take any necessary measures to fix the issue, Werner said.

All memberships have a 20 percent discount starting Monday until the Recreation Center opens, when they will resume normal rates.

Memberships will go on sale starting Nov. 7 in the Sanders Annex, located between Daniels Hall and Dabney Hall.