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Open for recreation
By MAUREEN BYRNE
© St. Petersburg Times, SEMINOLE -- Barbara Robson eyed the three treadmills as she entered the weight room inside Seminole Recreation Center. "Oh, boy," she said. "Look at this. Isn't this wonderful? Grammy likes this." For Mrs. Robson, 62, it was the treadmills that lured her to the $6.1-million facility on Saturday for its grand opening. But daughter-in-law Lisa Robson, 33, wanted to learn about exercise classes and children's programs offered at the recreation center. The Robsons joined several hundred people Saturday who stopped by the center during an open house. Most milled about the 58,000-square-foot building, exploring various rooms including a game room with pool tables and a gymnasium with two racquetball courts. About 20 young girls dressed in red and yellow outfits practiced cheerleading moves on a mat inside an auditorium. Inside the gym, a father taught his son how to dribble a basketball and a husband and wife played a game of badminton. Seminole Recreation director Jim Sheets said he was thrilled with the turnout Saturday. Before the doors opened at 9 a.m., 40 people stood in line outside the building at 9100 113th St. N. "I think the public is overly excited to get in here and use this facility," Sheets said. "As we know, it's been a long time coming." In 1999, voters in Seminole approved a referendum that paved the way for a multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion project at the recreation center, a rundown former church and school. To finance the project, the most expensive in the city's history, the city sold bonds, guaranteed by the Penny for Pinellas 1-cent sales tax. "I think it's beautiful," said Joanne Browne, 38, of Redington Shores, as she played a game of Foosball with neighbor Destiny Frost, 9. "Before it was dark and dirty." As a non-resident, Mrs. Browne paid a $70 registration fee for each of her two daughters so they can participate in a cheerleading program at the center. Residents pay no membership fee to join the center. Other features at the facility include a nursery, three meeting rooms, an arts and crafts studio, a music room and a concession area. The auditorium, equipped with stage lighting and a sound system, can be rented by the public. The center's outside amenities include two outdoor basketball courts, two multipurpose athletic fields and a playground. The final phase of the project, a Junior Olympic-sized pool and a smaller children's pool with play features, should be completed by summer.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
