The new year brings new plans for improvements for the city's recreational facilities.
About $66,500 in improvements are being made to the city pool, parks and Athens Community Center on 132 W. State St.
The biggest improvements include a small waterslide and climbing wall to be installed at the city pool, said Rich Campitelli, director of Athens City Arts, Parks and Recreation Department.
This will provide more things for the youth to do at the pool
Campitelli said.
The climbing wall will cost about $12,000, and the waterslide $14,000, Campitelli said.
Along with new features in the pool, the locker rooms will receive $5,000 in updates. The improvements should make the locker rooms more water- and energy-efficient, Campitelli said.
The new improvements for the pool will cost about $30,000, Campitelli said.
The majority of this money is coming from the supply and improvements area of the city budget, said Campitelli, adding that this is a normal amount to spend.
We (also) cut expenses and utilized the money for upgrades he said.
Most of these expenses were at the management level, said Campitelli, made by evaluating management staff along with admission and concession prices.
Unexpectedly high numbers of pool memberships brought in extra money.
The department has their own flow of cash said Athens City Auditor Kathy Hecht. Ten years ago
voters set aside 15 percent of the income tax for recreation.
The department also receives numerous grants to help pay for improvements, Hecht said. Improvements for the city skate park, roller park and basketball courts were paid with grant money, she said.
As the city pool and parks are upgraded, so is the Athens Community Center.
Between $5,000 and $10,000 is budgeted for improved equipment annually, Campitelli said.
Every year we improve a few things
said Andrew Chiki, fitness program specialist for the recreation department.
At the community center, new spinning bikes and a power rack have been installed, Chiki said.
We try to replace (with) new equipment to keep things fresh
he said. We can't expand because we don't have space
but we can replace equipment.
Some of the exercise equipment at the community center is 10 years old, when they only have a lifespan of three to four years with daily use, Chiki said.
Spinning bikes have been needed for awhile
said Chiki. The city has invested about $900 for two new bikes because of a growing demand, he said.
The new power rack cost $2,200, and the lateral pull down cost $2,400, Chiki said. Not all the budget is used right away, he said.
We like having money to fix things that may go wrong during the year
Chiki said.
A new power rack is replacing a squat rack, which increases the number of exercises available, said Chiki.
While improvements have gone in (at the Community Center)
it is the new addition at the pool that people will really take notice of. People will really appreciate the new changes
said Campitelli, noting that the pool should open for the new season Memorial Day Weekend.
@ThePostCity
