Department’s programs were held in temporary spaces
The City of Cookeville Department of Leisure Services is recognizing the 20th anniversary of the Cane Creek Recreation Center, which first opened in Oct. 2005.
The recreation center began as a small operation offering a handful of evening fitness classes and the School of Dance. At the time, there were only two full-time employees, Recreation Superintendent Cara Sheets and Recreation Programmer Mildred Garrett, along with Special Program Coordinator Jen Webb, who was part-time and several seasonal staff.
“When we first moved into this building, it was very quiet,” Sheets said. “We had five to seven evening classes each week and maybe one or two people passing through the park during the day.”
In its early years, the department’s programs were held in temporary spaces, including the old Levi’s building on Jefferson Avenue and the former Algood School. Since then, Cane Creek Recreation Center has grown to include five full-time staff members, 10 counselors and daily attendance ranging from 200 to 250 visitors. The center now offers 6 to 17 classes each weekday and operates programs seven days a week.
The facility is a destination for recreation and community events such as Dogapalooza, Father-Daughter Date Night and Fit Frenzy. Growth has extended beyond the building itself, with the addition of the Cane Creek Gymnasium, dog park and new park amenities, including the pickleball courts, playground and splash pad.
“It’s exciting to see how much the center and the park have developed,” Sheets said. “We started in a quiet corner of Cane Creek Park, and now there’s activity here every day. With the recent additions, we expect even more people to enjoy this space in the years to come.
The Cane Creek Recreation Center continues to offer a variety of programs for all ages, including fitness classes, youth activities, community events and the School of Dance.
More information about current programs and memberships is available at cookeville-tn.gov/ls or by calling 931-526-7393.
Photo courtesy of the City of Cookeville.
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