Before Allen Community College trustees commit to a new recreation center, they might consider how such an effort could help strengthen the relationship between the college and its surrounding communities.
After all, county property owners help support the two-year college, which levies a 19.874-mill tax levy. For the owner of a home appraised at $75,000, thats about $175 a year in taxes to ACC.
More importantly, major investments like these dont happen often, and theres a wonderful opportunity here for some visioning and partnering with city and county leaders to create a project that truly benefits the area as a whole.
About a decade ago, when Thrive Allen County was in its infancy, members conducted a countywide survey as to what area residents wanted in terms of recreation.
An indoor swimming pool topped the list.
Health professionals were on board, noting they send scores of patients Chanutes way to use its hospitals therapy pool for those recovering from joint surgeries or strokes.
They also recognized that for many senior citizens, swimming is the only exercise they can do comfortably. The waters buoyancy helps those with knee pain, arthritis or spinal stenosis.
School officials were on board as well, recognizing the benefits of swimming for both safety and physical fitness. Children who learn how to swim typically dont drown. Competitive swimming demands as much strength and stamina as any other sport. Make swimming a six-week rotation, just like badminton or basketball, and youd have generations learning the crawl, backstroke and butterfly.
For families, an indoor aquatic center would be a natural venue for recreation. Baby and Me swim classes are not only great bonding experiences but teach infants to love the water.
And for the college, of course, students and staff could enjoy the same advantages, making it a strong drawing card in recruiting both instructors and students.
BUT THE opportunities reach beyond just effective marketing for ACC. Such an effort could greatly improve our regions quality of life, putting all of Allen County in a position to grow and plan for the future, instead of resigning ourselves to a slow and inevitable decline.
An aquatic center would be a heavy lift, and the college cant do it alone. It would demand collaboration and transparency between leaders of the public and private sector.
Its been done before. The wellness center on the campus of North Central Technical College in Beloit is a wonderful example of a college/community/hospital partnership.
Built in 2006, the center piggybacked onto the colleges indoor pool, which was constructed in 1993, and is still holding strong, according to rec director Lori May in a telephone interview Wednesday. Were still on our first coat of plaster.
Today, the center is the hub of activity for Mitchell County, drawing from a 25-mile and beyond radius.
Substantial contributions from the City of Beloit, Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems and NCT Technical College, as well as tax-credit grants, helped launch the center.
Today, individual, family and corporate memberships have made the center a self-supporting non-profit enterprise. Membership includes use of all its facilities pool, indoor track, weight room, gymnasium, racquetball court (which doubles as a storm shelter, thus securing FEMA funds for its construction), spin cycle room, as well as free swimming and exercise classes, personal training and health screenings. The indoor pool is NCAA regulation size and a large therapy whirlpool includes bench seating. Pool hours to the public are from 6 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.
