Rec Center Celebrates 5th Anniversary Saturday

Have you ever visited the ?

If you’ve never been, or haven’t been in a while, Saturday’s a good opportunity to get a taste of what’s currently offered there.

The rec center is celebrating its 5^fifh anniversary Saturday and is holding a free-to-attend open house event. But at the rec center, open house means a lollipop swim meet, Guinness Book of Records attempt and free food. The celebration is 9 a.m-noon at the center, 6630 Van Buren St., New Port Richey.

The city-owned center opened in its expanded capacity in 2007 coming with a $14 million price tag.

New Port Richey was recognized this month as a “Playful City” for the fourth consecutive year. The recognition is given out by “KaBOOM,” a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to” saving play for America's children by creating great playspaces through the participation and leadership of communities.”

The center is one of such spaces in the city. New Port Richey was one of 213 cities nationwide to receive the designation.

Right now, the rec center administration on a campaign to drum up attention and memberships and . It is also trying to generate registrations for its summer day camp, which starts in June, and Camp Before Camp programs.  

The anniversary event will offer guests opportunity to meet instructors who teach classes at the center.  

Two rec center staff members will make a new attempt to earn a spot in the Guiness Book of Records for longest game of pickleball played. They tried to earn the record last year, but their entry was unapproved.

From 10:30 a.m. to noon, the New Port Richey branch of , a nonprofit swim team, will hold a lollipop family swim meet in which kids race against parents and rec center staff race lifeguards.

Representatives of RAP River Run, which raises money for a shelter for runaways, and the Coteeman Triathlon, which raises funds for Greater New Port Richey Main Street.

For more info on the new rec center  membership fees,. Summer camp memberships were also still available as of Tuesday, and the .