The REC Center to Open Bloomington Location

The REC Center is gearing up to open its third location in less than two years, this time expanding into Bloomington. The community-program based recreation center is slated to host the grand opening for the new location on Feb. 1. The new Bloomington location offers the center its very own community center space, which allows the organization to host several more programs, explained director Jennifer Araiza. "We have a full location that's totally our own and the community has been amazingly receptive," she said. "This gives us the opportunity for serving more people. There are about 21,000 people living in the community." The population of 21,000 is about double the current population the center serves in its Grand Terrace and Highgrove locations, and the Bloomington area space is about three times as large. Araiza's ties to the community were what led her to expand into Bloomington. "It's my hometown, it's where I graduated high school and the ability to bring some of our top-performing programs, as far as attendance goes, was my opportunity to give back to the community that raised me," said Araiza. The REC Center was opened in Grand Terrace in 2012, eventually obtaining a brick and mortar building near the city's south end on La Crosse avenue in May 2013. Later that summer, the center expanded into the neighboring community of Highgrove. The REC Center provides resources, education and recreation focused programs to communities that may otherwise not have them, including art, music, sports and recreation programs. "The Bloomington studio will offer all the classes and programs offered in Grand Terrace and Highgrove but because we have a bigger studio we are able to offer more," said Araiza, who noted that she hopes to make connections with local government and education agencies to establish a pre-school and after-school program at the Bloomington location. "Really, we're super excited to be in the community and in a facility that will allow us to cater to all this program can be," Araiza said. The Bloomington location will officially open on Feb. 1. All are welcome to join in the celebration, which will feature refreshments, vendors, and live performances by class instructors and youth members, with a few local dignitaries expected to attend as well. The celebration will span from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Bloomington location, 18604 Jurupa Avenue, Bloomington.