A long wait ends for Kentwood residents seeking indoor recreation space

The City of Kentwood will open its new $31 million Kentwood Community Center on September 26, giving residents a year-round indoor facility for fitness, sports, events, and family activities. The 67,500-square-foot building at 4755 Walma Ave. SE is in the final stages of construction, according to city officials.

Residents have asked for a permanent indoor recreation space for years. Kentwood currently operates an 11,000-square-foot activity center at 355 48th St. SE, but city officials said that facility no longer has enough room for the city's growing programming, according to MLive.

What the center offers

The facility includes amenities that go beyond a standard gym, said Kentwood Parks and Recreation Director Val Romeo. Features include:

• A multisport simulator for virtual soccer, football, and tennis
• Three full-sized basketball courts
• An indoor walking track
• A fitness center
• A bistro and cafe
• A childcare facility for parents working out
• A wedding and event venue called The Grove with capacity for 175 guests

The Grove includes a catering kitchen, private entrance, restrooms, and an outdoor patio, according to the city's website. The city provides in-house catering, bar service, linens, and setup for events, Romeo said.

"I think I'm most excited for the community to see all that they can do in this one spot in," Romeo said, according to MLive. "You could actually grow up in this building. You might be a 5-year-old who's going to play in our basketball league and when they turn 25, they're going to get married in our community center."

Funding and timeline

The project is funded through city savings accumulated over 20 years, a $9.1 million bond, a parks millage, and community donations, Romeo said.

Construction crews are on target for a mid-July move-in by city staff, according to MLive. The public grand opening on September 26 will include tours, live music, food trucks, fitness demos, kids' activities, sports, and giveaways, according to the city's website.

Memberships go on sale June 6

Residents can purchase memberships starting June 6. Monthly rates begin at $30 for Kentwood residents age 55 and up and $40 for all other Kentwood residents, according to the city.

The first 500 residents to sign up will receive a "Founding Member" gift, one complimentary hour of personal training, and an InBody body composition scan, Romeo said.

Neighbors say the center fills a need

Residents near the facility told FOX 17 the center will change how families spend their time. Will Kwiecinski said his family currently travels to Rockford or Portland for activities.

"For most of what we do right now, we go out to either one of our parent's side. Either Rockford or Portland, but having something more local that makes sense for us would be great for our family," Kwiecinski said, according to FOX 17.

His wife, Alicia Kwiecinski, said she hopes the space becomes a gathering hub.

"Anything where we can just kind of hang out, meet new people, just be a family, and do different activities. I think is great," she said, according to FOX 17.

Neighbor Taylour Boers, who lives about a mile from the center, said the location matters for families with young children.

"That'll be a great spot for us to be able to utilize," Boers said, according to FOX 17. "Especially now that I have little ones, and the possibility of like them growing up with a community center close by, easy access for us as a family."

Assistant deputy for Kentwood Parks and Recreation Spencer McKellar said the center was designed to bring people together year-round, especially during Michigan winters.

"In Michigan, in the winter, there's not a lot of places to come inside, you know, spend time with each other, walk around, and this allows our residents to really have that 365 days of access," McKellar said, according to FOX 17.