Rec re-creation — Bountiful delighted to be getting new center

BOUNTIFUL — It's a routine that Russell Adams dares not break.

Lift weights, swim a few laps then relax in the hot tub and steam room. His routine requires just a short drive away to the Bountiful Recreation Center, where the 79-year-old is a regular visitor.

"I hate to think what I would be without this kind of a routine," Adams said.

You'll find Adams at the rec center nearly every day from about 10 a.m. to noon. He's been swimming about 18 laps a day for 20 years now. He was working as an electrical engineer when he first started working out at the rec center in 1984.

Back then, he started exercising at 5 a.m. before leaving for work. Now retired, Adams can relax, sleep in a bit, then head out to exercise.

"This has always been my favorite spot" to work out, Adams said.

The 31-year-old recreation facility is showing its age. Over the years, one end of the pool has settled about 3 inches into the ground, and the pipes are cracking underneath the ice rink, said Neal Jenkins, Bountiful parks and recreation director.

Voters narrowly approved an $18 million bond in June to pay for a new recreation center that will serve five south Davis County cities.

"It's not something that we've just pulled a thought out of the air and said, 'Let's build a new facility just because we want one,' " Jenkins said. "We don't want one, we really need to replace the entire facility because of some major repairs that need to be done that would end up costing more to fix."

The new facility includes a pool specifically designed to cater to the multiple water aerobics classes the center offers. The classes are extremely popular, especially among the senior citizens in Bountiful, Jenkins said.

Norma Card attends water aerobics every day with a large group of women who come to class to exercise and socialize.

"I think some of the ladies go strictly for the social because they are widowed and they live in a house alone, and they go there to have somebody to communicate with," Card said. "I go to get a vigorous workout."

The 73-year-old said her No. 1 rule in life is to "never act your age." By attending water aerobics daily, Card said she is able to maintain a healthy lifestyle.