Full Text:

PAGE ONE

TOWNWIDE GYM SHORTAGES

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

There are three guarantees in life for all Newtown residents: death, taxes,

and a sure bet the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium will be booked solid every time

you want to use it.

You might have a better chance of getting an audience with the Pope.

The gym is used for just about everything - from aerobics and basketball to

antique shows, dog training, and birthday parties. It is the official home of

the Lathrop School of Dance and, over the years, has served as a polling place

and a town meeting site.

"You name it, they're in there," noted Marcy Becker, town hall manager.

This week, the town hall gymnasium was reserved from the morning until as late

as 11 am, every day.

"It's birthday parties galore because of no school," she said.

The situation has frustrated many Newtown residents over the years, including

Mike Pendagast of 14 Pole Bridge Road, who spoke out late last week.

"I have been unable to rent any time in the Edmond Town Hall gym for several

months now. I realize that in the past, bookings have been based on a

seniority basis, but I feel that this is not a fair system," he said.

As he pointed out, several groups have exclusive use of the gym, making it

extremely difficult for anyone else to book it for any of the weekday

evenings. There exists a monopoly whereby anyone not already participating is

out of luck, he said.

Mr Pendagast has proposed an annual lottery where a representative from

interested parties can submit a name with a preferred time slot, then a random

drawing takes place.

The first name chosen gets first choice of a time slot. This would be done

once a year so the manager would have to make a career out of booking the gym,

and subsequently, perhaps a few new groups can enjoy the facility, he

suggested.

Mrs Becker said she will pass Mr Pendagast's request on to the Town Hall Board

of Managers for consideration.

Mrs Becker said she dislikes telling people they can't use the gym. She only

wishes there was more space in the town.

"We wanted to open up the gym over at Fairfield Hills, but it's in bad shape

and the state didn't want to heat it," she said.

A Townwide Gym Shortage

According to Jason Arnauckas of the Parks & Recreation Department, a lack of

gym space has become a serious problem throughout Newtown.

"There's just not enough gyms for the amount of activities that go on in this

town," he said.

More than 1,000 youngsters currently participate in the Parks and Recreation

Department's basketball program. Youth hoops alone takes up huge chunks of gym

time, but there is also indoor soccer, floor hockey, adult basketball, and

numerous other events.

"We're maxed out right now," he said. "This is the most we can take simply

because there's no more gym space."

Parks and Recreation is at the mercy of each school, which has priority over

the gyms.

Jack Shpunt, who runs many of the youth basketball programs in town, has also

expressed frustration over the shortage of gym space.

"There's not only a shortage, but a lot of the gyms are too small. It's tough

to have the older kids practice there," he said.

According to Mr Shpunt, the basketball program is using up every available

slot of gym time, except for one hour during the week. In some cases, he had

had to double up practices, putting two teams in one gym.

This past fall, P&R Director Barbara Kasbarian held a forum to discuss the

town's shortage of field space. She may need to hold a second meeting to

discuss the shortage of gymnasium space in town.

Mrs Becker said many residents are shocked when they call up and find out the

town hall gym is booked.

"I think it is important that the community realize that there is a shortage

of gym space in town. There's a crunch," she said.

To rent out the gymnasium for sports, the cost per hour is $20; birthday

parties cost $15 per hour. Mrs Becker said many residents who try to reserve

the gym say they were unaware that there was a charge to use the gym.

Mr Shpunt said the proposed grades 5-6 school does include a large gym with

room for two basketball courts.