Reviving McHenry's Recreation Center: A Plan to Boost Membership

The McHenry Recreation Center is struggling to regain its pre-pandemic popularity. The city is considering hiring outside experts to help figure out how to attract more members and make the center more financially stable. The center's director, Bill Hobson, admits that marketing isn't his team's strong suit. They've tried various promotional methods like billboards, flyers, and radio ads, but membership numbers are still down. The city council is looking at a contract with PROS Consulting, an Indiana-based company, to conduct a business and marketing analysis of the rec center. The study, which will cost around $37, 280, aims to determine if expanding the facility could help bring in more members. The rec center, which opened in 2016, was initially designed with future expansions in mind, including indoor and outdoor pools. Before the pandemic, it had around 2, 000 members, but now it's down to about 1, 300. The city also has an aging aquatic center, the Merkel Pool, which is nearing the end of its useful life. Hobson suggests that adding a field house with three basketball courts could help offset the costs of running pools. These courts could also be used for tournaments, generating more revenue. The city has tried expanding the rec center before. In 2018, a $30 million expansion was voted down by 61% of voters. Now, the price tag is even higher, at $42 million. The upcoming study isn't necessarily about pushing for another referendum, but about figuring out the best way to use the facility and its resources. Hobson emphasizes that the goal is to create a recreation center that people want to use and visit. He believes that having great parks and events can make McHenry a more attractive place to live. The city owns a lot of parkland, including Knox Park, which is home to various sports facilities and could potentially have a pump bike track added.