Whitney Recreation Center celebrates new facility's first anniversary

Advertisement

As the Whitney Recreation Center celebrated the first anniversary of its new facility, program supervisor Kelly Woods looked toward year two and the new services and programs she and her staff hope to offer.

"We have more opportunities for a variety of people," she said.

The recreation center, located at 5712 E. Missouri Ave., marked its first anniversary on Dec. 12 with free passes, refreshments and an open gym.

This month, Whitney will implement a Stay and Play program and sports leagues, according to Woods.

Woods also hopes to expand the number of classes offered at the center and get people into the center during the day, when traffic at the facility is slower.

"We're looking to let people know we're here," she said.

Currently, the center has a playroom for children ages 6-12 and a teen lounge geared toward adolescents and young adults. With the Stay and Play program, parents with children younger than 6 years old can bring their children to Whitney for supervision while they participate in a class.

In conjunction with the Stay and Play program, Woods said staff at the facility are looking for different classes to offer in the coming year, including meditation and parenting classes.

"With the variety of classes, it's allowing us to reach more adults and families," Woods said.

Woods hoped the Stay and Play program would encourage parents who stay at home with young children to come in and take advantage of the facility during the day. She said the center's peak hours begin at around 2 or 3 p.m., when school lets out.

Recreation specialist H. Newby said sports leagues will start in January. The center will offer one-on-one, three-on-three and five-on-five basketball tournaments, flag football and will continue with open gym.

Newby said open gym, which will be available Monday, Wednesday and one other day from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., has gained popularity steadily throughout the first year.

"We're excited about open gym," Newby said. "We started out with one or two, and now we have 20 to 40."

Open gym is open to adults 18 and older for a $2 drop-in fee.

The building itself also will see some changes in year two. Woods said the outdoor basketball courts will be repaved, and the facility is expected to have a climbing wall installed in March.

"It's an interesting concept," she said of the climbing wall. "It'll be something unique. I don't think they have one in any of the other facilities."

The old Whitney Center, then called the East Las Vegas Community Center, was torn down in 2001 because of a mold infestation. During the time a new facility was being constructed, the staff offered programs at Whitney Elementary and Cortney Middle Schools.

The new facility opened December of 2005, with the senior center that was constructed in 1997 still operational.

The new campus features a playground, picnic tables, a pool and outdoor courts. The new facility was completed with a fitness room, computer lab, gym, town board room, art room, teen lounge and child playroom.

From 2 to 4 p.m., students can receive homework help in the computer lab.

Recreation specialist Kristie Billings helped furnish the children's and teen lounges. She said the children's playroom is filled with toys and games geared toward organized activities. A Playstation is equipped with Dance Dance Revolution.

"The teen room has more of a fun, hangout atmosphere. We wanted it to be more of a social environment," she said.

The teen room features couches, pool and ping pong tables, and a big screen television.

Billings said the rooms are filled at 3 p.m.

"That's when the fun begins, at 3 p.m. It's recreation in its purest form," Billings said.

The center also hosts a variety of senior classes in its senior center, which Woods said tends to be busier in the mornings. Classes include the AARP defensive driving course.

Woods said the facility will expand its classes, events and uses throughout year two.

"We want to open up our resources to fit the needs of the community," she said. "We want to provide positive opportunities for kids and open up for the community and evening classes."

The facility's hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For a complete list of classes, visit www.accessclarkcounty.com/parks.