Iola center to celebrate 20th anniversary
By Holly Neumann
The Iola-Scandinavia Community Fitness & Aquatic Center has reached a milestone.
The center will hold Customer Appreciation Day Thursday, Aug. 26, with a free pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in honor of its 20-year anniversary.
Everyone is welcome to the event. A picnic table and other items will be raffled off.
The facility first opened its doors in August 2001 and was the dream of former district administrator Chester Fraley, who passed away in January 2000.
“I hope he would be proud,” center director Tim Welch said. “When you come in and see a pool full of kids, it is pretty awesome. If you observed the community members and students cooperate in the weight room, it is great. If he saw how busy the mornings are when we offer our classes, he would love that. If he was to see how an individual can change their lifestyle and get healthier, he would smile at that. Everyone that had a hand in making this dream a reality should be proud.”
Donations paid for the construction of the facility.
“You normally do not have a facility like this in a community the size of Iola,” Welch said. “It took a lot of time and energy and strong backing by the individuals, businesses and families who had the dream of what this facility could look like and provide.”
The success of the facility is because of the people, Welch said.
“It is open to anyone,” he said. “Once you come in the front doors and realize what is here, they get excited to use it. Patrons come from Waupaca, Portage and Waushara counties and some farther away to use the facility. They see of how clean and welcoming the facility is.”
The center offers low-cost day passes, as well as monthly, six-month and annual memberships.
“We take different insurance supplements, such as Silver Sneakers, Silver and Fit, Optum Fitness, Renew Active,” Welch said. “We look at every opportunity to include other insurance programs when we can.”
Not only does the facility benefit the students within the Iola-Scandinavia School District, but also the community, according to Welch.
“Students use the entire facility in many different ways, for swimming lessons, physical education classes, weightlifting, cardio workouts, water activities, classroom rewards parties and more,” he said. “The students of the I-S district only pay to use the pool and it is only $2 for them to do so. The use of the rest of the facility is free to I-S students. They just sign in at the front desk.”
Welch said the community benefits from the individuals, couples and families the center brings to Iola and Scandinavia.
“We have families that move to our district just because our schools have so much to offer,” he said. “Retirement-aged couples and individuals love to retire nearby because they can stay healthy and use the pools and weight room at such a reasonable cost. We offer class types like Strongbodies, water aerobics and water therapy, Barre class, Boot Camp and others. We host Red Cross blood drives and other community activities. There are opportunities for everyone.”
Welch admitted COVID-19 has had an impact on the facility.
“The pandemic has hurt every business and we are no different,” he said. “We are happy to see old and new members coming in. We encourage everyone to visit.”
Anyone wishing to show their support of the facility and provide an ever-lasting tribute in the name of their family, business or organization on an inscribed tile which will be permanently mounted to the wall of the facility can do so.
Small tiles are 5×5 and cost $250, while a large 10×10 will cost $500. Currently, 20 small tiles and one large tile are available.
Interested parties can stop at the front desk or call the center at 715-445-2411 for more information.