By Emily Harrington
One of the best decisions I made after becoming a mom was joining the Savoy Recreation Center at 402 W. Graham Dr. in Savoy. I knew I needed to find a gym that had child care as soon as my body, baby and the facility would allow. I researched area facilities and found the rec center to be an ideal fit. It was close to home, inexpensive in comparison to other facilities and inviting rather than intimidating.
As soon as my son fit the child care age requirement, I enrolled our family. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the facility (and the people in it) would become a haven for me physically and mentally.
Here is my list of the top five things to know about the Savoy Recreation Center:
1. Group fitness
I started, and still to this day, mostly use the running track as my main form of exercise. However, there are also weights, cardio equipment and group fitness classes available. The fitness classes include Zumba, cardio kickboxing, yoga hybrids and much more. Virtually every interest and fitness level is covered in one class or another. Personal training is also available.
2. Open gym
In the main gym you’ll find a regulation basketball court available for the popular open gym. During this time you can play basketball, badminton, volleyball or pickleball. Depending on how many people are attending and what sport is occupying the gym, the staff can help you set up equipment for what you are wanting to play. Speaking of pickleball, this sport has exploded at the rec center since I started coming four years ago. It’s a hybrid of pingpong and tennis and super fun. The veterans welcome all ages and skill levels to join during open play times or planned clinics.
3. Special events
Outside of the day-to-day operations the rec center offers seasonal special events like the Mother/Son Superhero Ball, Daddy Daughter Dance or our favorite—Trick or Treat Street. Some events are even free to the community!
4. Programming
Year round there are a variety of ongoing programs for all ages, too. We have already participated in T-ball and music classes. When he is old enough, I look forward to enrolling him in some of the camps that take place when school is out. We aren’t talking just summer camp here. Virtually anytime school is not in session, the rec center has a child care option for school-age kids. The rec center even has you covered during a parent’s worst nightmare—snow days. The prices are incredibly reasonable, too. For the snow day option, nonresident parents can use the all-day service for $39.
5. Rentals
My son also had his third birthday here. We were planning on having the party at a local park after renting a pavilion through the rec center. You can rent space at Savoy parks at the rec center. Because of bad weather, we had to move the party indoors. They accommodated me in a pinch and saved the party! You can pick from themed parties like Legos or sports. They have a facility ideal for hosting a party for little ones. There’s a kitchen, and there’s plenty of space to run and play. In fact, you can rent most any room for any occasion. You can even rent fishing poles and take them to Colbert Park for an afternoon!
The facility is large, clean and never too crowded. You’ll find plenty of parking close to the entrance. It’s a perfect community space that my family has taken full advantage of. Even if we weren’t Savoy residents, we would continue to use the rec center.
There are packages to cover all levels of involvement—at all different payment increments. If you want a full family membership, an entry to open gym, a multi-use track pass, a SilverSneakers membership, pickleball playtime or just entry into the group fitness classes, the rec center will accommodate you. They are always running membership specials, too. You’ll find an annual family membership for a Savoy resident running around $400—a nonresident around $600. The facility is open Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
The staff and members have seen my oldest son grow from crawling, to toddling to never walking—only running. They’ve seen me through my pregnancy with my second son and then watched him grow at a lightning pace. I am so happy I found the rec center to help nurture my family’s health and wellness.
Emily Harrington is a Chambana townie. She left her 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. job in communications so that she could be a 24/7 mom to two busy boys. Still interested in writing, Emily uses some of naptime to practice her passion and keep her mind right. Emily is a happy wife with a happy life because she fell for a fellow townie. Emily usually finds herself engulfed in balls, blue and belly laughs.