After a Year, CREC Going Strong

Last June, Haverford Township's Community Recreation and Environmental Center opened its doors after a long planning process.

A year later, participation at the center continues to grow as residents continue to find out about it, tucked out of site off of Darby Road.

Being environmentally friendly is a big part of the building and surrounding acres, which include trails, a dog park, Freedom Playgound and playing fields. The township is aiming to reach Gold LEED certification, said Brian Barnett, Assistant Director of Haverford Township’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Before CREC, the township had to rely on school district facilities for its programming. Now, they don’t have to.

“We wanted to create a flexible space,” Barrett told Haverford Patch.

The space includes multipurpose rooms for rent, an indoor walking track, a gym, and an environmental lab and classroom. Many rooms have access to the outside deck, which overlooks woods. 

The facility has “brought a whole new population into the Parks and Recreation Department,” said Barrett, who added that half of the township’s population is more than 50 years old. Much of the equipment is made for older adults.

For the workout facilities, you can pay as you go or buy passes, which are 20 for $60 or 10 for $40. Barrett said the pay as you go system is better for their residents.

The goal is to keep CREC from being a burden on taxpayers.

Will the new YMCA coming to Havertown be competition? In a way, yes, but at the end of the day “we have two different missions,” Barrett said.