Shape up! New South Davis rec center brings new life to area
By Natalie Clemens
Deseret Morning News
BOUNTIFUL — It may not be called the "Bubble," but that won't keep it from bursting with activity inside.
Scott G. Winterton, Deseret Morning News
Swimmers enjoy the pool at the new south Davis recreation center.
The South Davis Recreation Center opened its doors to the general public Monday, March 5. And with more than 180,000 square feet of fun, there's something for everyone.
"It's going to be the top recreation facility in the state," said John Miller, executive director of the South Davis Recreation Center.
The recreation center sits on the same site that used to feature the Bountiful Bubble, 550 N. 200 West.
Construction began on the facility in April of 2005, and the Bountiful Bubble was torn down in August 2006. Miller said he is taking suggestions for a name for the South Davis Recreation Center.
"We don't want it to be called the 'Bubble,"' he said. "We want it to have its own identity."
On Friday, March 2, local dignitaries had the opportunity to tour the completed building.
"This is exciting to me," said Centerville Mayor Ronald Russell. "What's exciting, aside from this wonderful facility, is it shows what we can do when we work together."
The center is being funded by an $18.5 million bond that was approved by voters in Centerville, Bountiful, North Salt Lake, Woods Cross and West Bountiful in August 2004.
The Davis School District also formed a partnership with the center sharing the gymnasium on its main floor with Bountiful Junior High School. The junior high uses the gymnasium during the school day, and the south Davis recreation center has access to it before or after school.
Local high schools will also use other parts of the center. The hockey teams from Bountiful, Viewmont, Davis and possibly Woods Cross high schools will use the ice rink, and swim teams from Bountiful, Woods Cross and Viewmont will utilize the lap pool.
Scott G. Winterton, Deseret Morning News
Adam Barder tries out the climbing wall, one of the center's many features.
Miller said citizens of the community have been driving by watching the building being built.
Now those citizens can utilize the center.
The main level of the center houses most of its activities. It features an ice rink, gymnasium, multipurpose gym, lap and leisure pools, and bouldering cave.
The multipurpose gym sits in the center of the facility. It features sports court flooring and is equipped to house activities like deck hockey, volleyball, basketball and futsal. The dasher board that lines the court came from the Bountiful Bubble.
Miller said that eventually there will be bleachers placed on one side of the multipurpose gym so that about 250 spectators can watch the different activities.
Next to the multipurpose gym sits the bouldering cave that features special flooring with 4 inches of padding. Stretching 12 feet, the cave's walls are peppered with artificial rock grips for climbing.
Miller said the cave is different than a traditional rock wall, because it doesn't require harnessing or ropes to climb. He said that additional padding, 8-inch mats, will be placed near the walls for extra protection.
The indoor competition 25-meter stretch pool is down the hall from the cave. It can be used for 25-yard or 25-meter races. Bleachers positioned above the pool on the center's second level provide spectator seating for 500 people.
Across from the competition lap pool is the indoor leisure pool. It features a water playground, spa, lazy river and four lap lanes. During open-plunge time, the four lap lanes can be turned into a water-basketball or water-volleyball arena. Eventually the leisure pool will also have a circular water slide.
"This place kind of just speaks for itself," Miller said of the leisure pool area. "Parents are going to be waiting in the foyer trying to get their kids out of here."
Scott G. Winterton, Deseret Morning News
Casey and Jackie Smith try out the equipment.
An outdoor splash pad with water fountains springing up from the ground and a pirate ship will also be added later this year. The outdoor area will include a sunbathing area, a grassy area and an outdoor concessions area.
In the open area around the corner from the leisure pool, a Dance Dance Revolution machine is hooked up to a television for people to play. Miller said he eventually would like to place ping-pong and Foosball tables in the area.
The center's Olympic-size ice rink is on the north side of the facility. It features spectator seating for approximately 750 people.
People must pay additional fees to use the ice rink area. Miller said all the other activities are included in the admission price to the center.
The second level of the recreation center features free weights and pin-selector machines. In one area, more than 30 cardiovascular machines, each equipped with its own television monitor, line the wall with glass windows, facing the center's multipurpose gym.
The second level also has an exercise studio equipped with spinning bikes, exercise balls, pads, steps and more.
"It's limitless what exercise programs you can hold here," Miller said.
Also, five racquetball courts are on the second floor.
"They are fun to play in," Miller said. "I've already tried them out."
The third level of the recreation center consists of a walking/jogging track that circles the facility. People 60 years and older can come to the recreation center for free and walk its track.
Miller said the center is very unique, because it is very open.
"You can see how open it is," he said. "That is something we really like about it. You don't feel closed in."
Scott G. Winterton, Deseret Morning News
The new south Davis recreation center features a pool, above, as well as an ice rink, gymnasium, bouldering cave and more.
The center provides child care for its patrons at the price of $2.50 per child, per hour. There is a two-hour maximum.
The facility also has two party rooms and two meeting rooms that people can rent for various events.
Carolyn Jacobson of North Salt Lake toured the facility.
"I've been dying to see the place," she said. Jacobson used to go to the Bountiful Bubble.
"I really didn't like the facilities, because they were so old and small," she said. "I could never get into lap swim, because it was so crowded."
Jacobsen said she is looking forward to swimming at the new center.
"It's very exciting to even think we have a neat facility like this," she said.
She is also excited to bring her family to the center.
"We'll come play racquetball with the grandkids, and I'm sure they'll climb on the wall," she said.
Bountiful City Councilman Tom Tolman said the center is pretty nice.
"It's perfect," he said, adding that local residents will enjoy using its facilities.
Miller agrees.
"Local residents are going to come in here and see the facility and just fall in love with it," he said. "It's a family-oriented facility."
Annual membership pricing:
Family (one or two adults and up to five children that can be claimed as dependents as per IRS standards; additional children are $25 each); resident — $450 plus tax; nonresident — $585 plus tax.
Couple: residents — $375 plus tax; nonresidents — $485 plus tax. (A couple is two individuals who share the same household.)
Adult single (18 and up): resident — $300 plus tax; nonresident — $390 plus tax.
Senior single (60 and up): resident — $225 plus tax; nonresident — $290 plus tax.
Senior couple: resident — $275 plus tax; nonresident — $350 plus tax.
Youth (4-11): resident — $175 plus tax; nonresident — $225 plus tax.
Student (12-17): resident — $225 plus tax; nonresident — $290 plus tax.
Senior walking pass: This is a free annual pass for use of walking-track-only patrons 60 years and older.
Resident: A resident is anyone that resides in Centerville, Bountiful, West Bountiful, Woods Cross or North Salt Lake.
Nonresident: A nonresident is anyone that resides in any other city than listed above.