EQT REC Center pavilion enclosed, renovated for tumbling, cheer programs
Since its inception about three years ago, the youth tumbling and cheer programs at the EQT Recreation, Education and Community Center have grown exponentially.
What started with just eight kids has grown to about 200 participants at the REC Center located in EverGreene Technology Park in Franklin Township.
As a result, the REC center’s Saunny Hanko Pavilion has been enclosed and renovated to accommodate the ever-expanding Iconic Cheer and Iconic Tumblin. The pavilion is dedicated to Saunny Hanko, one of the center’s donors, much like every other area in the facility.
Walls have been constructed and insulated, a heating and air-conditioning unit was added and 2,000 square feet of carpeting was installed over the cement floor. The carpeting was provided at cost by Humble Carpet & Decorating Center in Waynesburg.
“We kept buying equipment and for us to bring it out every night into the soccer field to let (the tumbling and cheer program participants) practice on it became a hassle for our staff,” said David Jones, executive director of the Greene County Health and Wellness Foundation. “That ties up half of the soccer field that we can’t rent to other organizations. So we decided to put some money into renovating that pavilion to make that the permanent cheer and tumbling facility. It’s better for the kids, better for our staff and it increases revenue for people who want to use the soccer field.”
The renovations will be on display from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Light refreshments will be available and some of the cheer and tumbling programs participants will demonstrate their skills.
The Greene County Health and Wellness Foundation was formed in 2005 with proceeds from the sale of Greene County Memorial Hospital. The foundation built the EQT REC Center, which opened in the fall of 2017 on 13.3 acres in the business park. Currently, there are about 2,400 members.
“That’s practically 10% of the county,” Jones said. “We offer a lot of things out there that the county didn’t have before.”
The 60,000-square-foot center offers fitness classes, room rentals for businesses and special events, as well as summer camps and sports leagues.
Amenities include an indoor soccer field, elevated walking and jogging track, batting cages, game room with pool tables and table tennis, a fitness room, party rooms and a regulation basketball court, part of which has been used for the growing sport of pickleball.
It’s been used for events ranging from vendor shows to wrestling tournaments to flag football games to an adult basketball league.
Jones is quick to remind that the facility is not just a recreation center.
“We really built that with the mindset to be a community hub,” Jones said. “We really try to be flexible in as many areas as we can. We want to be able to adapt. We have a lot of room to expand. We’re always looking to meet the community’s needs.”
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