Craig Daily Press / All-in-one

January 19, 2008

Aquatics manager Deb Henderson keeps a watchful eye in the pool section of the Meeker Recreation Center. The pool offers a variety of aquatic activities including a leisure pool with “zero-depth” entry, water toys, whirlpool and lazy river slide. A four-lane lap pool also is available from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 to 9 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The pools close an hour before the rec center closes each night.

Photo by Hans Hallgren

Megan Lofton watches an infant in the Tot Spot. The center offers short-term child sitting to parents using the facility.

Photo by Hans Hallgren

People line up to register in the lobby of the recreation center.

Photo by Hans Hallgren

Dondi Glasscock leads a Bosu class, “Absolute Balance,” on Wednesday evening. Many different classes ranging from dance to art are available.

Craig — The multi-colored building located on the north end of Meeker looks slightly out of place.

Inside, the building is filled with sharp angles, modern décor and people buzzing about — it feels like an urban building rather than one located on the rural Western Slope.

The Meeker Recreational Center, which recently celebrated its grand opening Saturday, offers everything from a weight room to fitness classes to a pool that more closely resembles a water park.

The construction took a scant 15 months to complete, though the building was five years in the making.

“To see people using it,” executive director Heidi Ham said, “it’s a real sense of satisfaction.”

The center is located at 101 Ute Road and is open from 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday though Friday, 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Daily rates and annual membership passes are available.

For more information, call 878-3403.