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More in store for Cloverdale

The Cloverdale Recreation Centre is about to swing into full operation, rolling out a lot more new programming and moving to its regular operating hours.
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Lindsay and Ryan Cyr

On April 4, the Cloverdale Recreation Centre swings into full operation, rolling out new programming and moving to its regular operating hours.

“I think the community’s really excited,” said Laurie Cavan, general manager of Surrey Parks, Recreation and Culture.

The new, $20-million, multi-purpose facility at 6188 176 St. is designed to appeal to – and be used by – a wide cross section of the community, from pre-schoolers, children and youth, to adults and seniors.

Now that the new recreation centre is open, the city can begin offering a tremendous amount of new recreation programs in Cloverdale.

“It will increase substantially,” Cavan said.

The centre has been open for drop-in gym sports, weight room, fitness classes, child-minding and spring break camps since its “soft” opening last month. Registered programs begin April 7.

Since opening its doors, people have been coming by to check out the airy, modern building, which has three gymnasiums, a fitness and weight room, a fitness studio with a sprung floor, and multipurpose rooms.

“You just get a sense that people are taking a lot of pride in having this new facility in their community,” Cavan said.

Just that day, visitors ranged from kids walking in to the gym carrying basketballs to a senior leading a friend on a tour through the facility.

A key feature are the building’s large windows with mountain views from the fitness and weight room areas, which are built on two-levels.

“We want it to be really welcoming for all ages, ability or gender,” she said.

Along with a youth lounge upstairs, the centre’s third gymnasium will have a youth focus in terms of programs.

“We found that our most successful youth programs are where we have youth space adjacent to a gymnasium,” she said, adding Cloverdale can expect additional youth programming now that the facility’s fully operational.

The Cloverdale Senior Centre has also moved in. There is more space than the previous location, with a kitchen and seniors’ lounge, plus the use of other multipurpose rooms for activities, from carpet bowling to fitness, depending on demand.

Expect more seniors activities with a focus on becoming more active by taking advantage of the other amenities the building has to offer.

“We can really enhance the variety of programs that are available,” she said.

“We’ve really worked closely with the seniors to make sure we can meet their program needs and have the ability to expand to create new programs for them, because we have amenities they didn’t have,” she said.

The original Cloverdale recreation centre, renamed the Don Christian Recreation Centre, will continue to operate.

“We’re moving a lot of youth programs into the space and the senior’s program, but the rest is all new programming.”

Operating hours are Monday to Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

The Spring Cloverdale Recreation Guide is available at surrey.ca.

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