by Dave DeMars
After years of hoping and wishing, the establishment of the St. Joseph Community Center is finally taking shape. The first recreational sport laid out in the new center are two pickleball courts. Now what’s needed are people to use them.
When the city took over the care and maintenance of the old Kennedy Elementary School, there were lots of things planned for the building. Part of the building is rented and used for daycare. A section of it is being used for foodshelf activity. And the historical society is in the process of setting up its area. But there is lots of room for other activities.
“We have open gym now,” said St. Joseph City Administrator Judy Weyrens. “We have open gym on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., and on Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. We have stripes and courts for pickleball and we could add pickleball nights. We would like to hear from the public as to what they want to see for hours.”
Weyrens explained the facility could be set up for basketball, floor hockey, maybe volleyball, and they have quite a number of board games for those who want competition but aren’t quite so athletically inclined. Right now there are two gymnasium activity areas. Extra rooms can be used for other activities such as card playing, chess and checkers.
Cost for use of the building is $2 per person, or one can purchase a pass card for $30 and get 20 uses of the facility. That way patrons can save $10.
As the facility gets going and activities expand, more information will be published in the St. Cloud Community Ed booklet, including some free lessons on how to play pickleball and other games.
“More and more activities are going to be offered out here and we want everybody to take advantage so they continue to offer classes,” Weyrens said. “If patrons have suggestions for classes they would like to see, they should let us know so we can get the information to District 742.”
Right now the city is depending on the St. Cloud school district for support in establishing activities in the center, but Weyrens said as the city grows and the use of the building grows, so will the kinds of activities and the days of operation.
A sign announces the kick off of the city sponsored Community Center program in St. Joseph. The program is looking for anyone who wants to take part in a little physical activity twice a week.
An empty gym awaits its its first pickle ballers – or basketball players – to kick off the Community Center program. The gym has been marked for pickleball play and new nets near the wall just need to be put in place for a hot game. The Community Center is open on Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., and on Tuesdays, 6 – 8 p.m.
