- April 19, 2024
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Dear Editor:
We are more than half way to our goal of 400 members to save the club, with two months to go. We have already made many changes to the operations of the club to make it a more community-oriented facility. We will be holding our second open house event 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, inviting the entire community to come out and enjoy the facility with free food and entertainment for the entire family. We will even have a visit from Santa.
Once we have reached our membership benchmark, we plan on expanding the hours of operation, getting new gym equipment and making other changes to have the club better serve the community.
Some tried to frame the debate on the saving of the club as some seniors-vs.-kids fight. The club is made of every age group, from toddlers to seniors in their 90s — yes, in their 90s and still working out at the gym.
These same seniors cast a unanimous vote to reduced the price of membership for teenagers and free for all kids 12 and under. That's not exactly the actions of self-serving seniors.
For adults, membership fees were reduced to just $17 per month if you sign up for auto debit with the annual membership plan. Unlike other gyms, the plans don't come with hidden fees and annual fees that trick you into signing up to a low-priced promotion, only to find out later that you owe them a lot more money and gave them permission to automatically take it out of your accounts.
We have priced our membership to be competitive with the other gyms in town once you factor in their hidden fees. The plans at the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club are straight forward — no gimmicks or hidden fees.
Thanks to these same seniors, membership for families has been greatly reduced. A single mother can now join the club and work out in the gym, while her kids play tennis or enjoy free use of the pool. Gone are the daily fees that act as a barrier to kids coming out and enjoying themselves. Now when the kids say they want to go to the pool, mom can't say it costs too much.
We offer everything the other gyms offer, plus tennis courts and the only heated pool in Flagler County. You can't beat that deal.
Join us at Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club, 73 Patricia Drive, Palm Coast, FL 32164. Call 446-6717.
CarMichael McMillan
Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
I would like to let everyone know about the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club. This club has been both mentally and physically a life line for me. I have met wonderful people there.
People who I have become friends with and have provided me with information on all different topics. For example, I have gotten educated on all the different medical plans, including Silver Sneakers, good doctors, good restaurants, good places to visit and shops, and all this while I am exercising in the pool.
I have developed many wonderful friendships. Taking a wonderful shower afterwards and feeling like I have done something good for myself.
The Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club has become a very important part of my life, my health and wellbeing.
To see it close would be a terrible injustice to the community. This is something that I look forward to for my health and wellbeing, and being able to share with others knowledge that I have learned throughout my life.
Elaine Brodsky
Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
As current members of the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club, we would like to say how important the pool has been to both my husband and me. My husband, John, is a disabled Vietnam veteran who uses the pool four to five times per week.
Two years ago when we joined, he was walking with a cane due to his neuropathy in his legs and feet. He also has a degenerative problem with his hips and lower back. Because of his swimming, his health has greatly improved. I use both the pool and gym and enjoy using both for my arthritis and back problems. There are also many members who use the tennis courts, and several exercise classes are held on site.
If the Flagler County School Board decides to close the pool in 2016, there is no alternative pool to use for swimming and exercise. This facility is important to all the members in Palm Coast.
It is also an important place for socializing for the many retired and senior members who have known each other for years. The closest facility to Palm Coast for lap swimming is the YMCA in Ormond Beach, which would add an additional financial strain to the people who need to budget their income.
Attention is needed from the city of Palm Coast, the Flagler County School Board, and all concerned public officials to keep this facility open. We, the members, understand the cost involved and are more than willing to pay comparable membership dues.
John and Liz Hallahan
Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
I have been living in Palm Coast since 2005. When I researched towns in central/northern Florida to retire to, Palm Coast was No. 1 on my list. One of the reasons was that I knew they had a club that was available to residents in Palm Coast and Flagler County for a nominal yearly membership fee.
I visited the club before transferring to Palm Coast and was impressed with it. I decided right then and there that Palm Coast was where my husband and I wanted to live.
The Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club has the heated pool, tennis courts, a sauna, and also the fitness center, which is used by students and adults — myself included.
Many of the adults and senior citizens have supported the club with their taxes for many years, even though many have not had children in the schools. It is also centrally convenient. We support the BTSRC and want it to be kept open for the citizens of Palm Coast and Flagler County.
Angeles and Arthur Glick
Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
As a concerned citizen, taxpayer and voter since 1999, I am very interested in keeping the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club open to the community.
The availability of the facility to the school children and their parents, as well as adult and senior citizens is very important. It includes not only the heated pool, tennis courts, a sauna, but also the fitness center, which is used by students and adults. Many of the adults and senior citizens have supported the club with their taxes for many years, even though many have not had children in the schools.
Jane Lysinger
Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
My husband started to work out at the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club to strengthen his body. I noticed that he was more motivated to go frequently when I decided to join him.
The facility has everything we were looking for close to home; with his medical issues, he is able to use the heated pool, the sauna and the various equipment the club has to offer. His doctor was very pleased with his health after he started to use the facility.
We are very happy and lucky to have this club in Palm Coast.
Roy and Rosemarie Harris
Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
As a senior resident of the city of Palm Coast, I am compelled to write this letter to the leaders of our town to reconsider another purpose for our Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club. It already serves the greatest benefit to most of our citizenry by fulfilling many physical and social demands of its retirees.
The city of Palm Coast has, to some degree, become synonymous with “a good place to retire.” It is listed and compared to communities in California and Arizona as ideal for fun activities, along with manageable year-round good weather.
In addition to the seniors finding a place for fun and social activities, these activities are needed. We require activities that maintain our physical health, as well as activities that maintain our wellbeing. All of this works together to sustain our lives and the original promise of Palm Coast.
Finally, the city of Palm Coast not only sustains our lives and promise for the seniors of Palm Coast — it also provides that same promise to all of the citizens of the city and their futures.
P. Michelle Johnson
Palm Coast
