What a large and beautiful facility that recently opened in Salem! You may know that in January 2004, McDonald’s heiress Joan Kroc left a gift of $1.5 billion to The Salvation Army to build and help operate community centers across the US. In a competitive race, Salem received $35.5 million from the Ray and Joan Kroc gift to build the Community Center and it just opened in September.
It was my first visit, but Mike and Betty are new Kroc Center members and they do a water exercise class 3-5 days a week. This morning the three of us started out in a wacky-shaped pool playing with a water noodle and Styrofoam bar-bells. From there we fought our way against the current of “the river” - a curvy path of water that utilizes a mechanized current to challenge our strength! After that work out we relaxed in the hot tub. There are also waters areas designed specifically for children and infants. The water facilities are something to see!
We showered in the very tres chic individual cabanas that include a shower, toilet, sink and changing area. I was so impressed with the modern environmentally sound toilet...(click on the pic to enlarge it and the signage.)
There are many exercise machines (with individual TV monitors) that sit out in the hallway. It sorta feels "invasive," to the observer, but at that same time it must feel "open and free" to the people working out.
Once showered and dressed, we sat in the lobby and enjoyed cafecito drinks purchased from the espresso bar. The rock climbing wall is in the lobby and we watched as climbers practiced climbing.
The gym...this place is something special! Coffees finished, Betty and Mike gave me the grand tour that included activity rooms for art, computers, books, spirituality, theater, day care and other things I have already forgotten.
After that we went home and got Ron to head to Applebees for lunch (see my post from yesterday about the Applebee’s Restaurant offer for a free entrée for veterans and active-duty military personnel.) We got there close to noon and the parking lot was packed! We finally found a parking spot and got on the restaurant’s 20-minute waiting list. We found seats in the bar and I pulled out Mike’s framed US Marine Corps picture and set it on the bar. Ron and Betty had seats across the bar from us and here they are enjoying their beverages.
Soon enough we were shown to our table. The place was fully decked-out in US military colors! And many of the veteran patrons wore hats or vests acknowledging their contributions to our country. In light of the recent shooting at an Army base, it felt very good to see these people up close.
Happy Veterans Day!
2 comments:
It was great fun - as always with you and Mike. Ron & I had a great time - it was a day well spent!
B
The Kroc Center is the facility I came up to Salem to help dedicate in October. It is quite a place, isn't it? And 5 years of hard work to build.
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