West Sacramento Recreation Center, a combined use facility with River City High School.
When the new River City High School was built, the West Sacramento community reaped a big benefit in its adjacent West Sacramento Recreation Center, which the City of West Sacramento shares with the high school. The rec center, which like the new high school opened about a year ago, is a complete workout facility, with both competition and recreational pools (including a water slide!), workout rooms, indoor basketball/volleyball court, aerobic room and even a climbing wall (er, I’ll skip that one). And the best part is that West Sacramento residents can use it at a reduced rate, and no one who uses the rec center has to sign a contract or make a super long-term commitment.
Personally, I already have a gym membership at 24Hour Fitness. However, there are still times I like to use the rec center. And for $5 for a one-day use, why not? Sometimes it is pouring down rain and I don’t want to drive to downtown Sacramento. I can hop on the treadmill at the rec center at 6 a.m. and get my morning run in. Other times, I want to swim laps in an outdoor pool, rather than one of the indoor pools at 24Hour. The rec center’s pool is deluxe — the competition pool has about 7 or so lanes, and it is separate from the recreation pool where the kids romp and play. It is heated year round. And that water slide! Personally, I’ve never used it…but how unique is that? In addition, I have taken swim classes at the rec center, something my health club doesn’t offer.
The center's recreation pool, with its "famous" water slide.
My teen daughter uses the rec center quite a bit; it is even cheaper for her as a student. And there are some fun, unique events, such as the recent WII bowling tournament. Plus the staff is SUPER friendly, and the rec center employs many of our RCHS and other students during the summer as lifeguards and swimming teachers. It gives you a great sense of community to jump in the pool to swim your laps after waving to your next door neighbor’s teenage daughter working as a lifeguard.
So we West Sacramentans have one less excuse to avoid exercising — an excellent workout facility is minutes away and doesn’t cost a fortune.
