By Pyc Fitness
©2004-2008
The trend to stay healthy and fit isn't new to the Grand Strand, but it is new to some towns that are getting into the business of providing recreation facilities.
Myrtle Beach has provided such services since 1968. North Myrtle Beach opened a 64,000-square-foot facility in 2005. Now Conway officials are considering improving their recreation offerings with an indoor gymnasium and center.
Most city officials say they don't intend to compete with private businesses, but instead want to offer a service to all residents. They say residents are beginning to expect fitness and recreation services just as they do public safety protection.
"What's nice about it is there are choices. People have choices whether they want to participate in a facility or not. When communities are looking to build, you want to be able to offer something to improve the quality of life," said Melinda Chappell, director of the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic and Fitness Center, which has more than 3,000 members. She says the facility is trying to meet a need that may be going unmet in the community.
Conway officials formed a committee to look at the recreation needs of the city, which is to determine the scope of a new facility and how it would complement the current complex, said Ken Senn, Conway's recreation director.
Councilman Irby Koon, who serves on the committee, said such a project is on the horizon, but not expected to be built soon.
"We're trying to develop a footprint of what we want to build and where we want to build it. This isn't going to happen tomorrow, but it can happen," Koon said. "Our next greatest need is recreation, and let's look to 2015 and what we're going to need and provide."
The need for fitness centers will continue to increase as the population's waistline grows, said Jon Gibson, director of Conway Medical Center Wellness & Fitness Center, which is a 39,000-square-foot facility opened in 1997 and has about 2,600 members.
"I think it's needed. Obesity is one of the most preventable diseases there are, and there's a lot of people coming into the area. And we need to serve them," Gibson said. "As far as a competition thing, we're all here for a common goal. Our mission is to improve the overall health of the community."
According to a 2005 survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42.1 percent of South Carolinians and 39.7 percent of North Carolinians had insufficient physical activity. The national average was 37.7 percent, the survey showed.
"If we can encourage people to try us out or any facility, that's a start. People like to buy something and put in their house and they get bored with it. They don't have to take care of the maintenance and there are a lot of different things to do," Gibson said. "I would encourage people to try a facility and for many people it's a social gathering."
Myrtle Beach officials recently began an expansion project at one of their four recreation centers, city spokesman Mark Kruea said. Crabtree Memorial Gymnasium is undergoing a $6 million expansion to build two new racquetball courts, aerobics studios and other improvements. In 2004, officials renovated Pepper Geddings Recreation Center, the first center the city built in 1968.
"Recreation isn't one of those basic government services. It's not like police or fire or solid waste collection, but it's one of those things that make a community a good place to be. It's a quality of life issue," Kruea said. It's in high demand. It's not a life saving service like police and fire protection, but it is in that next tier that people look to governments to provide."
Conway officials appear divided on how to approach a recreation expansion and bear the costs associated with it.
"We're playing football on baseball fields. We can't afford to loose a football field," Councilman Tom Anderson said after hearing a proposal to use some of the space near the current complex for a new facility.
Mayor Greg Martin said he has serious concerns about building a new facility because it could be too cost prohibitive and a duplication of services already offered by Conway hospital and a couple of private gyms.
"I favor an expansion of the existing community center for a number of reasons. One it's more affordable, two it maximizes the ability of the city to utilize the land more efficiently and three if avoids duplication of facilities. It's attainable in a short time," Martin said. "It certainly concerns me with the facility that I saw presented that we would compete and perhaps hurt privately owned businesses. I want to see a survey of what is in town now so that we can assess what the real needs are to provide. I think it's important what we provide is available to all citizens of Conway and I don't think a membership fee makes it accessible to everyone."
Councilwoman Alys Lawson said a master plan for recreation expansion should be developed to allow everyone to agree on what's to come in the future and how to achieve it.
"Let's not narrow our vision so much where we build a building that we've already outgrown on a piece of land we've already outgrown," Lawson said. "Let's try to think outside the box."
Councilman Randy Alford said he would like to see services expanded at the senior center, but he's not sure that should include an indoor gym.
"If we build the gym space on the senior center, I do think it will create a problem and in the future when we have to expand we'll have nowhere to expand," Alford said.
Crazy Fit Massage , Ab Rocket , Leg Magic , AB Lounge XL , trampoline , perfect pushup , exercise bike , Air climber , the bean exerciser , Bowflex , Treadmill , Pilates Equipment , Ladders , sitemap , More Products...