Center looks to future

Membership rates will be increasing early next year.
& lt;a href=mailto:leigh@vindy.com & gt;By NORMAN LEIGH & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- As it nears its first-year anniversary, the Salem Community Center has reached its membership goal, and its director is contemplating expansion.
The $9.5 million exercise and activity center, built largely with a grant from the Salem Community Foundation, has seen its membership increase from about 2,600 last year at this time to about 4,700 now, Eric Green, center director, said recently.
"It's been a good growth rate for us," said Green, who noted that not all the members are local.
The center, on North Ellsworth Avenue, is drawing people from the general area, particularly Canfield, he said.
"You have people who are so excited" about the 50,000-square-foot facility, Green said. "It's nice to see that level of enthusiasm."
Thinking about future
The expanding membership roll isn't causing the center to burst at the seams yet. But it does have Green thinking about the future.
"I've seen other community centers in five years having a need to expand," he said.
"That could be possible" for the Salem Community Center if growth continues, he added.
No expansion plans are being made, but Green noted that the facility postponed adding a new parking lot because the space may be needed for an addition.
Membership isn't the only thing that's increasing at the center.
Fees for belonging will be going up in January from a range of $22 to $27 per month to $22 to $28 per month.
The rates are being boosted to keep pace with expenses and to help move the facility toward self-sufficiency, Green said.
The center's goal is to pay its own way through revenue from membership fees, rental of its meeting and activity rooms, and fees for special programs such as aquatics.
To help get the center started, the community foundation has pledged to pitch in $200,000 annually through the facility's third year, Green said.
Meanwhile, the center is working toward expanding its offerings and fine-tuning its operation, which employs five full-time people and 50 part timers.
Being organized are a basketball league for men 30 and over, and a combined men and women's adult volleyball league.
The center also is instituting a program that allows youngsters 8 through 14 years old to spend time on their own in the center.
Kids in that age group must be accompanied by an adult to use the exercise room or the pool.
The center will offer a certification program in which participating youngsters will receive some instruction and then be permitted to use the exercise room and pool on their own.
& lt;a href=mailto:leigh@vindy.com & gt;leigh@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;