Welcome to the Bayfield Area Recreation Center
The Bayfield Area Recreation Center is a true community facility, featuring an indoor pool, fitness room, hot tub, sauna, racquetball court and meeting room. Open to the public year-round, the Recreation Center services over 30,000 annual visitors of all ages. For many, the Rec Center is a place to exercise, stay healthy and spend quality time with friends and family. Some, including many seniors, do rehabilitative and preventative exercise that they could not function without. The Rec Center provides a very important place in our battle with childhood obesity and diabetes. Bayfield School students, grades 1-12, take swimming lessons at our pool.
It was in August of 2006 that non-profit Recreation and Fitness Resources (RFR) took over operations and management of the Bayfield Area Recreation Center. Assuming financial responsibility for the Rec Center seemed like an impossible task at the time, but here we are years later with a healthy and thriving facility. The credit for our success is due to the support of the entire community. From the School District of Bayfield providing capital improvement dollars, to the 27 businesses collecting 1% for Recreation donations, to the crazy people who plunged in March and their donors, it has been a total community effort to keep our doors open. The recent Point to LaPointe Swim to Madeline Island this summer was a great example. The race is growing, bringing 1000+ visitors to the area, and is getting rave reviews because the whole community pitches in to put on a great event.
From August of 2006 to June of 2012, the Rec Center has:
–hosted 169,972 visits, including 36,089 visits by seniors and 60,970 by children
–given financial scholarships to 121 families of 378 people to become members
–increased memberships to a current 582 people
–cut gas use by 57% and electricity use by 40%
–earned Wisconsin Travel Green certification 5 years in a row
–helped the Red Cliff Summer Food Program give away 10,948 free lunches and snacks
–obtained $72,960 in competitive grants
–established membership and use programs with Red Cliff Health Center, Red Cliff Youth Center, Mishomis House, Northern Lights Health Center, Bayfield County, the School District of Bayfield, St. Louis School, Red Cliff Head Start, and South Shore School.
Thank you to our community for your support!
Thanks also to our community partner, CORE Community Resources. CORE helps seniors stay independent, active and valued members of our community. www.corecr.org
You are still welcome to use the fitness room at this time, however, it will be more crowded than usual.
Chippewa Valley Bank donated $1500 as a matching challenge to our financial assistance fund. This fund provides scholarships to low income families to obtain membership. We need to raise an additional $1500 to complete the challenge and meet the fund’s needs for the year. To donate or inquire about a scholarship, call 218-334-1302. Thank you, Chippewa Valley Bank!
Please note our new hours: the facility will be closing at 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
The Bayfield Rec Center now has a Facebook page!! Check it out!!
We thank you!
The Bayfield Rec Center now has a Facebook page!! Please like us to get the latest announcements (classes, special events, closings…).
If you wish to receive our monthly email updates, or to change to electronic billing, you can email us at center@gmail.com
