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Old standby makes new friend
(by Barbara Christian - April 21, 2010)
WINDOW ON MAIN STREET, BY BARBARA CHRISTIAN
Old standby makes new friend
Confession. In the 43 years I lived in Chagrin Falls, I had never joined "the Rec" -- aka the Chagrin Valley Recreation Center -- the epicenter of all summer fun in our town and beyond.
When our kids were little, we worked, and, in those days, there was no such thing as flex time or the technology that now allows us to work from home and on our own schedule. So instead of hanging out at the Rec and learning to swim, our kids went to day camp.
We knew the Rec was there, of course. I wrote countless stories about this legendary place. As I recall, one was all about the history of the Rec, straight from the founders, who were still around at the time.
Through those conversations, I learned that the Chagrin Valley Recreation Center began in 1943 as a learn-to-swim program that grew into much more. We also found out that this little recreation center that could take no tax money was self sufficient, funded by membership fees and run by dedicated volunteers.
The Rec has survived 67 years, through emergency major overhaul of its facilities, including the original pool, which was built with Works Progress Administration and Federal Economic Recovery Act money in the late 1930s. It survived the advent of lake communities which threatened to make the recreation pools irrelevant. It continues to hold its own in a time when there are so many summer program choices.
It is successful, because parents know its track record of being a place where their kids can be free, have fun and be safe, according to Rec center board chairwoman Karen Ostanek.
There are still swim classes, open swimming, tennis lessons and open tennis, classes, activities and plenty of time left over to hang out with friends.
All of this, and we had managed to miss it for 43 years. It wasn't until last year, when the grandkids visited, that we discovered firsthand the miracle that is the Chagrin Valley Recreation Center. All it required was a free "super senior" membership and a few bucks per grandchild. We had a ball.
Ruth, our oldest, made new friends at the big pool and found the concession counter, both in quick order. Eamon, our mid kid, got more comfortable in the water thanks to the mid-sized pool, and tiny Evie stomped and splashed merrily around the wading pool like she owned it.
The Rec had lived up to its reputation, with the exception of one little thing. There were no stairs for us super seniors whose bad backs and aching knees make it difficult to negotiate the metal pool ladders.
Too little to mention to anyone in authority, except I did. The Rec prides itself on being responsive, and both Karen Ostanek and Rec Director Mary Beth Wolf lived up to it. Both ladies are way too young to know about aging joints, but they got it. As it turned out, the Rec does own a set of stairs. They weren't put into the pool last summer for some reason, but the women promised they would be there when the pool opens in June.
In Chagrin Falls, it's all about history and tradition, and there is no better legacy than the Chagrin Valley Recreation Center. Long may it survive.
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