COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — Clad in athletic shoes and a slightly sweaty T-shirt, Nancy Dahill works out on a weight machine in the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center.
"It's a gem. There aren't many facilities like this in the valley that have everything right here," says Dahill, who visits the center every other day to use the exercise machines, pool and track.
As baby boomers flock to the gyms and the rise in obesity continues to be a national concern, two community recreation centers are seeking money from taxpayers for facility expansions or repairs.
The Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center, 5624 S. 4800 West, is looking for $12 million to expand its fitness facility and cover the outdoor pool for winter usage. For taxpayers in the area, the bond would mean paying $15 more a year in property tax on an average $175,000 home for up to 25 years.
The Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center, 7500 S. 2700 East, is proposing a $4.9 million bond that focuses on repairs for the indoor pool — upgrading aging pipes, replacing the boiler and fixing the roof. If approved, the bond would mean $16 more annually on an average home of $327,000 for 12 years.
Residents in the two areas will have the opportunity to vote on the respective bond proposals during Tuesday's primary election.
The Utah Taxpayers Association opposes the Kearns Oquirrh bond, calling it "wasteful spending," but it remains neutral on the Cottonwood Heights proposal.
Sign of the times
During the past 20 years, obesity has risen dramatically in children and adults in the United States.
In 2008, six states — Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia — had 30 percent or greater obese population. Utah had 22.5 percent obesity, according to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Baby boomers, the 78 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964, have the spare time to hit the gym and are also motivated by the desire to stay young and healthy.
"Baby boomers are seeking an active lifestyle to buy a better, longer life," said Mike Peterson, director of the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center.
Peterson, a boomer and former personal trainer, works out daily in the fitness and cardio rooms and runs marathons.
Peterson says exercising doesn't have to be tedious. Aerobics, stationary cycling, racquetball, tennis, volleyball, walking and water activities make it all fun.
Kicking it in Kearns
The Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center, built in 1962, now comprises two indoor and four outdoor pools, as well as a fitness facility, gym, child care, dance/aerobics rooms and tennis courts.
It is home to the state's water polo competitions and long-course swimming championships, with seating for up to 800 people. A covered pool could open up the facility for winter school swim meets.
A recent survey indicated that the pool, fitness and aerobics areas are crowded, and 82 percent said they would support a bond to improve existing facilities and building new facilities. In addition, 79 percent said they would be willing to pay $1 more per month to make that happen, according to the survey.
The center is over capacity due to continued growth of members, admissions and programs. For 2010, there are 15,420 active members, up 269 from last year.
Besides expanding the fitness room and covering the outdoor pool, projects include providing access to an indoor walking/running track; building an outdoor lazy river and water slides; rooms for community events; replacing locker rooms; additional parking; and improvements to the tennis courts.
However, these extra projects are deemed "wants," not "needs," by the Utah Taxpayers Association, which has panned the center's plans.
"It's a Christmas wish list," said Royce Van Tassel, association vice president, adding that the project plans aren't clear as to exactly where the funding will go.
Center officials have a prioritized master plan for the bond projects but say it has to be somewhat flexible depending on the eventual bids, bond rates and the construction market. Besides the requests from the public, recreation center officials point to the cheap construction costs, low interest rates and need as reason to do the work now.
Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center director Brent Sheets says he "takes exception" to the Utah Taxpayers Association telling the people of Kearns what their needs and wants should be.
"If the public votes for the bond, we will move ahead in a responsible way," Sheets said. "(Van Tassel) obviously places a different value on recreation facilities than our residents have expressed to us."
After swimming laps at the Kearns center, Valerie Cogdill said she won't vote in favor of the bond.
"I'm just not looking to spend any more money," Cogdill said.
Sarah Moore, who was toting along several children at the center, said she will vote for the bond, calling it a bargain.
"The rec center works really well for our family," she said. "The child care center is affordable."
Crunching in Cottonwood Heights
Built in 1971, the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center is starting to show signs of wear and tear — issues the bond funding is aimed to fix.
"It's just taking care of what we have so it will last another 20 to 30 years," Peterson said. "We're not trying to build a Taj Mahal."
"The bond focuses on safety needs," Van Tassell said.
The Cottonwood Heights recreation center includes four indoor pools and two outdoor pools; an indoor Olympic-size ice rink; a fitness facility; racquetball and tennis courts; a running/jogging track; and dance or aerobics rooms.
"It's a big draw for living in this area," Dahill said, adding that her kids were on the swim team, played soccer and then were lifeguards — all using the rec center.
The Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center has about 10,000 members, but nearly 30 percent of usage is drop-in nonmembers. Center members have indicated the indoor pool is extremely important to them, according to past surveys, Peterson said.
"This is a hub for the community," he said. "It's all about quality of life."
Besides fixing aquatic infrastructure such as pipes, boiler and roof, $100,000 in bond funding is slated to improve irrigation issues with two neighborhood parks near the center.
Mary Pickrell, who is within walking distance of the center, said she is undecided on the bond proposal and will be studying the issue until Tuesday.
Pickrell's two teens will be using the pool this summer. Her daughter, Kim, 14, is taking ice skating and tennis lessons at the center.
Pickrell points out she could vote yes for the tax increase and then there could be more tax increases down the road from different entities or simply other demands from her own budget.
"So many other things could go up," she said. "A little bit here and a little bit there can add up to be huge."
A tale of two bonds
Kearns Oquirrh Recreation Center
5624 S. 4800 West, Kearns
Cost: $12 million
Impact: Property tax increase of $15 annually for up to 25 years
Projects: Expand fitness facility, cover outdoor pool
Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center
7500 S. 2700 East, Cottonwood Heights
Cost: $4.9 million
Impact: Property tax increase of $16 annually for 12 years
Projects: Upgrade pipes, replace boiler, fix roof
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