Woodmen Hills and Meridian Ranch residents may not be aware of all the fitness, recreational and community activities just outside their doorstep.Last month, the NFH reported on the Woodmen Hills recreational facility and its contract with the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region. The Meridian Ranch facility has a similar arrangement. Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District manager Tim Hunker said all of the employees for the Meridian Ranch Recreation Center are contracted through the YMCA.”It’s small enough right now that it doesn’t warrant having [district] employees,” he said. Hunker said that only the Woodmen Hills Community Center is staffed with district employees.Joe Driskell, YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region operations director for the Woodmen Hills/Meridian Ranch Recreation Centers, added that the YMCA offers 50 to 60 employees who work between the Woodmen Hills and Meridian Ranch recreational facilities.”There isn’t necessarily a Woodmen Hills staff and a Meridian Ranch staff,” Driskell said. YMCA staff is interchangeable between the two. Hunker added that the flexibility of moving staff between the two facilities is cost efficient. “Since both are staffed by YMCA employees, we are able to draw from a bigger pool of people if we need more staff members at one facility than the other,” he said.Staff is just one of the commonalities the two facilities share. Both facilities are restricted for use by their respective residents, but also offer fee-based programs to non-residents. Like Woodmen Hills residents, those who live in Meridian Ranch pay approximately $36 each month as a park-and-recreation fee for use of the facility, which is included on their utility bill. Although there are similarities between the two facilities, residents may also find some differences. “Each facility is very unique in what it offers and what it brings to the community,” said Hunker.Meridian Ranch Recreation Center, which opened in April 2005, is considerably bigger than the Woodmen Hills recreational center. The 36,000-square-foot facility includes weight training and cardiovascular equipment, a fitness and aerobics center and an outdoor swimming pool. Although Meridian Ranch currently does not have an indoor pool, Hunker said there are plans for one.”As this community grows, this facility will add on an indoor pool,” he said. There is no specific timeline set for the addition. Rather, the pool will be added based on the size of the housing development. Currently, Meridian Ranch has about 500 homes. The development is expected to grow to 3,200 homes.Driskell and Hunker said they expect to see an increase in the number of facility members once the indoor pool is added, but they have already seen a higher number of members because of the facility’s most recent addition – a gymnasium. “The addition of the gym this past May was a huge amenity for this facility,” Driskell said. Hunker said the gymnasium has opened more options for families who want to participate in activities with or without their kids.”The whole family can come to the recreation center and utilize the gym as something to do with the kids, and [the gym] makes it more of a family atmosphere,” he said. “Or mom and dad can exercise while their kids can play basketball or volleyball.” Hunker added that he has seen an increase in adults utilizing the gym for basketball, volleyball and karate programs.Meridian Ranch Recreation Center is at 10301 Angeles Road and is open Monday through Wednesday and Friday, from 6 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 4 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, 1 to 6 p.m. The center is closed on Thursdays. For more information, call 495-7119.
