Morgan Hill Centennial Recreation Center has outgrown their fitness facility after three years and is expanding.

The Centennial Recreation Center on 171 W. Edmundson Ave, in Morgan Hill started the expansion project this week and expects completion by April 2010. This beautiful environmentally green facility has outgrown the fitness facility as is evident at peak hours. During the summer months the facility is packed all hours of the day and the parking lot is full all the time because of all the many activities offered in the direct area.

Thanks to the residents of Morgan Hill who voted to fund the local redevelopment agency in the 1990s the city now has a wonderful parks and recreation program. The Centennial Recreation Center, (also called CRC), Aquatic center and dog park are a direct result of their forward thinking.

Morgan Hill has improved a number of park and recreation facilities, such as the aquatic center and soccer complex adjacent to it; the dog and skate board park both across the street of the CRC. The only problem I see with the expansion project is that the parking problem will only get worse.

As a resident of Gilroy I couldn't imagine why the city of Morgan Hill needed another recreation facility with indoor pool when they had a beautiful and expensive state of the art aquatic center on the east side of town. Little did I know at the time how important this facility is for not only the residents of Morgan Hill but surrounding communities such as Gilroy and San Martin who are benefiting too. For years I wanted to belong to a fitness facility but every time I showed up at my local gym to sign up I turned home without a membership. It just didn't feel right for me. When I toured the CRC a few days before opening day in October 2006 I felt at home right away and signed up as a member. I had some concerns that it would be too far away for me to regularly work out but it is not. As a matter of fact I run into acquaintances from Gilroy all the time.

The facility opened at a cost of almost $28 million. It is roughly 52,000 square feet and with the new construction they are adding about 2000 square feet to the fitness facility which will add more cardiovascular machines and enlarge the free weight area. Currently the center has some 3000 members. It is operated by a unique partnership between the City of Morgan Hill and the YMCA of Santa Clara County.

Visit the city's website for a sneak peak at drawings of the expansion.

The facility is bright and clean and spacious. When you enter the building from either the parking lot or the W. Edmundson side you step into a large lobby, which is the center of the community dividing it into the fitness center on one side and the Kids Zone, Senior Center, Teen Center on the other side. The staff is wonderful and offer personal training, classes such as Zumba, Kickboxing, Yoga including classes for beginners, boot camp, spin classes, Pilates, and more. It also offers classes for seniors and families. The Fitlinxx computer system keeps track of my fitness goals and keeps me motivated. The large gym hosts a number of leagues but also has open gym and is my daughter's favorite place for a game of volleyball. The center also hosts health and wellness fairs

The Morgan Hill CRC now has its own Facebook fan page.