Walk into the Woodmen Hills Recreational Center East and more than likely a YMCA staff person will be behind the front counter.Joe Driskell, the operations director for the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region Woodmen Hills/Meridian Ranch recreation centers, said most people who come into the recreational center are confused about who oversees the operations of center and who has access to its programs. Visitors ask how to join the YMCA in Falcon.But, Driskell said, “We are not a YMCA facility. The Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District owns the Woodmen Hills East Recreation Center and contracts with the YMCA to run the facility and provide YMCA programs. Tim Hunker, Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District Manager, said the relationship between the two organizations developed when the district was trying to staff the recreational center. Hiring certified lifeguards for both of the indoor pools was a primary concern. “Basically why the district contracts with the YMCA is because they have the experience,” Hunker said. “Since we have the indoor pool, they bring the lifeguards and safety and the training with them.”Hunker said contracting with the YMCA was more feasible than bringing in employees from the metropolitan district and training them to the level of the experienced YMCA employees.People also are confused about who is permitted to use the facility.”Use of the facility is still Woodmen Hills residents only,” Hunker said. “When we run swimming lessons or a soccer program…Woodmen Hills residents get priority. If there is still room, then we open it up to the public.”Woodmen Hills residents are billed $36 per month. About half of the monthly fee covers the costs for using the recreational facility.Driskell said they encourage the public to participate in any of the fee-based YMCA programs offered through the Woodmen Hills Recreational Center. “Having this opportunity to come out and join in the district and offer YMCA programs out here in Falcon is a unique opportunity,” he said. Hunker added that this is the first time the YMCA has contracted with a private facility in the West.In addition to the recreational center, Woodmen Hills also operates a community center. Many of the events are open to the public, such as the fall festival and the visit from Santa Claus. “It’s open to everyone and it’s free to come,” he said. “But if you want to participate in any of the activities, you have to pay for them.”The Woodmen Hills Recreational Center East hosts between 2,500 and 3,500 members each month. The facility is located at 9205 Meridian Ranch Boulevard and is open weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. “Child Watch” hours are weekdays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, call the Woodmen Hills Recreational East Center at 495-2009.
