DECATUR, Ala. — It's important to stay active, and as more and more for-profit gyms pop up, local recreation centers are feeling the effects of people wanting to stay active but doing so at said gyms.
City government in Decatur is considering some changes.
Recreation centers have been around and benefited communities for decades, but they may be starting to slowly disappear or take on new forms.
Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling talked about the past, and future, of rec centers in his city.
"Back whenever our rec centers were built in the '70s, we didn't have all the different fitness centers that we now have throughout the city. And then on top of that, we have churches with fitness centers. So, the model has changed somewhat from what it used to be," said Bowling.
Although these rec centers haven't changed much over the years, the turnout has.
Not as many people are going to these centers, but it makes no sense to get completely rid of them simply because not everyone will be a member of a fitness center with a monthly fee.
In order to serve everyone, Mayor Bowling has proposed repurposing rec centers around the city so that they aren't just sitting there, barely used.
He also proposed building a replacement for the Aquadome Recreation Center, now on 5th Ave. SW, in Wilson Morgan Park on the Beltline.
This idea of one centralized rec center may pose issues like accessibility for those who don't drive or live a distance away, but it also has some major perks, according to Bowling, like being able to keep the center open longer and for more days, as well as being able to take care of more of residents and guests overall.
So why was Wilson Morgan Park chosen? Mainly, its location.
Bowling explains, "It is perfectly located next to our retailers, to two restaurants, to our hotels. It's close to the interstate and so with the rec center going there, we also want to revitalize Wilson Morgan. Also, there are some existing amenities there that need to be repurposed."