Sneakers squeak against the shiny, wooden floors of Wellington’s Village Park gymnasium as players race across court to pass, steal or send the ball swishing through the hoop. Their faces glisten against the fluorescent lights as they aggressively shoot for victory.
For Tyler Gilham and his friends, it’s a typical Thursday afternoon. “There’s nothing like competitive sports to make me work out harder than I’ll ever push myself at the gym, or going on a treadmill, or going for a jog,” Gilham said in a quick break before the next game. “When I’m here with the guys playing basketball, it’s more fun. I get a way better workout.”
Gilham has been playing basketball in the Village Park gymnasium for about six years, and Open Gym is just one of the many athletic outlets that the Village of Wellington offers.
All Wellington residents and non-residents 12 years old and over are welcomed and encouraged to participate in Open Gym, though there is a difference in admission. Visitors are required to show an ID before stepping onto the court. Residents can enter free of charge while non-residents are required to pay a $5 fee.
“I can bring my friends from other communities here, and they pay $5,” Gilham said. “They can get in, and we can play basketball.”
Children under 12 years old are also welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.
Along with being a relatively inexpensive activity, friends, classmates, neighbors and strangers are drawn to the Village Park gym simply because it’s indoors.
“As you get older, playing outside is just more stress on your body,” Gilham said. “Playing inside is the only way I can really play anymore.”
Open Gym is just one of many athletic programs offered by the Village of Wellington, Athletic Programs Manager Ryan Hagopian said. The village also offers sports leagues, as well as camps and academies for students over the summer, and much of it takes place indoors.
“We don’t really run any leagues during the summertime only because, one: the weather is not always cooperative during the summertime, with rain and everything like that,” Hagopian said. “But two: it’s so hot out — I mean, it’s really, really hot out for the kids, so we make sure we monitor that when we have them in summer camp. No more than an hour outside at a time to keep them safe.”
With that in mind, the campers have ample opportunity for athletics, including splashing around in the Wellington Aquatics Complex pool twice a week.
“We also have the whole facility here at Village Park to play anything from dodgeball to basketball, indoor soccer, go fishing out front, play capture the flag — a multitude of games,” Hagopian said.
The camps include activities outside of sports as well. It is set to run from June 1 to Aug. 7 this year. Ages range from 5 to 15, broken into groups by age, and prices range from $160 to $185 per week.
Registrations are currently open and are based on availability. Families can sign up for camp up until the very last minute, but early registration is encouraged. Hagopian estimated an average of 225 kids per week attended summer camp with Wellington last year.
Along with camp, children can also participate in the different “academies” the village offers. According to Hagopian, the academies are like mini camps that focus on specific sports, such as soccer, basketball or fishing.
“We also have a speed and agility camp that we run through the summertime, and that’s good for all sports,” Hagopian said. “It’s not sports-specific; it’s really working on their footwork and endurance, and gaining their speed, so you can equate that to any sport.”
Hagopian expressed a desire to provide kids with creative and athletic outlets because today’s children need time to recharge.
“When I went to school, it wasn’t nearly as stressful as it is now,” Hagopian said. “There’s so many tests and so many things that the kids have to do, and they’re doing more at younger ages. It’s not a bad thing, but [our programs are] an opportunity for them to have fun, de-stress and enjoy themselves.”
Wellington’s Community Programs Coordinator Chris O’Connor stressed his idea that social activities, whether they be sports or crafts, are important for overall health.
“I’d say the biggest aspect is getting people out and active in some way, shape or form — whether it’s mental, physical, emotional — it draws people together as well,” O’Connor said. “And that’s really important.”
The village also offers many athletic opportunities for adults, such as softball and flag football. They are also working to add a co-ed kickball league.
“Sports take your mind off of what could be going on in your life, and I think it’s really important for people to be able to do that,” Hagopian said.
Hagopian invites all Wellington families to learn more about the village’s camp offerings.
“We understand that you’ve got only 10 weeks of summer, and then you’re going right back to the grind of school,” Hagopian said. “And we want kids to have as much fun as possible during the summertime.”
To learn more about the different athletic programs that the Village of Wellington has to offer, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov and click on “Parks & Recreation.”