Wooster's Community Center offers a wide array of activities

The Wooster Recreation and Community Center is another Wayne County gem that can help to answer the perennial question: “What is there to do in Woo?”

The community center is part of the City of Wooster’s recreation division, which currently includes three aquatic facilities (Christmas Run Pool, Freedlander Pool and Knights Field Sprayground), the Wooster Soccer Complex and The Chalet at Freedlander Park. The community center building located downtown includes a fitness center for those age 50 and over and is the site for an assortment of classes, events and daily activities.

Recreation manager Ashley Hershberger said, “The core functions of our department are one, quality of life; two, health and wellness; three, (an) information resource; and four, accessibility for all. The mission of the Wooster Recreation Department is to enrich the lives of our community members through parks, programs and play.”

Classes offered include aquaerobics. In partnership with Flex Yoga, there are yoga and pound classes. Senior stroll occurs on Tuesdays at various area parks, and senior hiking meets on Fridays at Wooster Memorial Park.

Events include the Daddy-Daughter Dance, the Mom & Me event, the Izaak Walton League trout derby, Santa’s Mailbox and AARP tax assistance.

Regular youth sports activities include soccer, basketball, volleyball, swim team, tennis and track club. Indoor futsal also is available. Futsal is based on football and played on a hard court, like a basketball court.

Sports-minded adults can get involved in sand volleyball, indoor co-ed volleyball and pickleball. During any given week, groups of people age 50 and over gather at the community center for bingo, duplicate bridge, billiards, cornhole, ping-pong, canasta, euchre and mahjong. These are drop-in activities, and new people are encouraged to come and try something new or enjoy an old favorite.

Much of the activities, classes and events offered at the center are geared to older residents.

“Many of our daytime programs and our fitness center at the community center are available to anyone 50 and older,” Hershberger said, noting some programs and the fitness center have a monetary charge. “Our classes, facilities and programs are open to residents and nonresidents to register, when in season. However, we do offer a resident discount if you live or work within the city limits of Wooster.

“Pool passes are available for residents and nonresidents and can also be used at the Ellen Shapiro Natatorium Memorial Day through Dec. 31. YMCA of Wooster members can use their memberships to gain entry into city pools during the summer.”

The community center has numerous summer activities planned. These include outdoor pound classes on July 8 at Christmas Run Park, July 13 at Oak Hill Park, Aug. 5 at Freedlander Park and Aug. 24 at Kinney Fields.

According to the website, pound is a full body workout that combines cardio, conditioning and strength training with yoga and Pilates-inspired movements. Instead of listening to music, attendees become the music by using lightly weighted drumsticks engineered specifically for exercising.

There will be a farmers market on Thursdays, July 6 through Oct. 5 from 8 a.m. to noon. Vendors will set up outside the center to sell a variety of goods, and all products offered are home grown, handmade or baked fresh.

Any individuals interested in becoming a vendor may call the center or fill out the new vendor form at https://forms.gle/uHArd6cHpCdyP8Lr8.

Additional summer events include Kids Day at Christmas Run Park on July 19 and Wayne County Humane Society Paws in the Park Party at Freedlander Pool on Aug. 6 from noon to 4 p.m.

Hershberger encourages everyone to go online and look through all the offerings. “Our website is a great resource to find out about everything we offer through the community center and the recreation department,” she said.

The Wooster Recreation and Community Center is currently looking for youth soccer officials and basketball referees. For more information call 330-263-5207 or email recreation@woosteroh.com.

The community center offers a scholarship fund for income-qualifying youth who live within the city limits of Wooster. They accept donations to this fund year round, and monies are used toward discounting programs and pool passes. Contact the center for more information.

The Wooster Recreation and Community Center is located at 241 S. Bever St. in Wooster. For more information, updates, cancellations and more regarding any of the programs, go to the website at www.woosteroh.com/recreation, call 330-263-5207 or find the center on Facebook at www.facebook.com/woosterrecreation/. A schedule of all activities, events and facilities is available to download from the website.

In an era where people often find much to disagree on, community-supported recreation opportunities are a great way to bring everyone together.