Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium opens new youth fitness center

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The Natatorium Health and Fitness Center in Cuyahoga Falls celebrated its third anniversary Oct. 6 with the introduction of its state-of-the-art youth fitness center. Mayor Don L Robart, along with Bill Considine, President and CEO of Akron Children's Hospital, and Kathleen Rice, COO of Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital, celebrated the introduction of the latest program for youth fitness in Northeast Ohio.

Dr. Edwin Holland, superintendent of Cuyahoga Falls Schools and Dr. Jeff Graham, superintendent of Woodridge Schools, also attended to show support of the schools in the battle to address youth health and fitness.

The day began with the mayor giving the State of the Natatorium Address.

The speech discussed the growth of the Natatorium through the year 2007. Even with new competitors, the Natatorium grew to more than 800,000 admissions for the preceding twelve months.

To accommodate that growth, the Natatorium had more than 4,000 land-based classes and more than 2,000 water fitness classes.

During the year, the Natatorium provided babysitting for approximately 20,000 children. The mayor highlighted the dedication of 140 employees who work daily to provide service.

Following the address, the mayor declared Oct. 6 to be Fit Kid Day in Cuyahoga Falls.

More than 90 children from DeWitt, Lincoln, Silver Lake, Price, Richardson, Price, Redeemer, St. Joseph's, and Woodridge Intermediate attended and took an oath of fitness for themselves and the schools they represented.

Childhood obesity has become an epidemic.

More than five million children between the ages of 6 and 17 are considered overweight, and almost 70 percent of those children will become obese adults. The Natatorium Health and Fitness Center, along with Akron Children's Hospital, Summa Health System--Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital, and Kohl's Department Stores are teaming together to fight this prognosis.

The celebration continued by the hundreds in attendance with refreshments and a tour of the new Youth Fitness Center.