The school system may say that summer is over, but summer as a season is certainly not. We’ve still got a couple more months of long hot days that moms with preschoolers need to fill. Or just survive. Better to lower the expectations. After my house, the Opelika Sportsplex is where I spend the biggest chunk of my time. (After the Plex, it’s the grocery store. *shudder*) With it’s mile long outdoor walking/running track, disc golf course, brand new pickleball courts, and a myriad of amenities, the Plex is a major local attraction. And it’s more accessible than ever since the road that connects the Plex to Exit 64 was completed. If you haven’t been there in awhile, just hop on I-85 to Exit 64, hang a left from 85 N (or a right from 85 S), go straight at the stop sign, and a freshly paved road will take you through the woods to grandma’s house, I mean, the Plex. Maybe your grandma’s too, I don’t know where she lives. Here are 5 reasons the Plex should be the go-to spot for you and your family this summer (and all year round).
- Splash Park – There’s nothing else like it in this area. Lots of colorful water dispensing apparatuses (apparati?) and room to run. What more do kids want? Tables, chairs, and shade are all available. The cost is $4 for non-members to use. You *can* rent it for parties, but that only guarantees a table.
- Playground – The playground has things for both toddlers and bigger kids to enjoy and plenty of benches for parents to sit and observe. Add in clean and accessible bathrooms and you’ve got yourself a winner. Things to note: the sun sails are small and only cover the actual playground structures, so sunscreen is a must. And the ground covering is rubber so if your kid is like mine, they will get their little bums dirty. Don’t dress them in anything too cute. Learn from me.
- Indoor walking track – I don’t know if you’ve noticed this or not, but it’s HOT outside. If you still want to get some exercise with your kiddos, you can walk the 1/12th mile indoor walking track upstairs. There is an elevator so you can get strollers up there. One of the first things I did to start exercising again postpartum was walking. When it was too cold to walk the outside track (she was born in September), I took my tiny baby in her stroller and walked the indoor track with my earbuds in. Exercise and interesting podcasts are sure to boost your mood. Just be sure to check the signs for the direction of the day lest you run into someone.
- Child Care – Let Ms. Shirli and her crew take care of your little monster while you take some time for yourself. Tot Watch is included in your Sportsplex membership, and is available from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, with a two hour limit. Let them know what snacks you want your child to have when you sign them in, otherwise they’ll give them goldfish or cereal that they keep stocked when the other kids are snacking. Doesn’t matter that my daughter just had breakfast, if other kids are eating, she wants to eat, so I always pack snacks.
There is also a game room downstairs for older kids who don’t need constant supervision. I recently saw a mom with 5 kids in tow who dropped them all in their age appropriate rooms and then sat and worked on her laptop by herself. #momgoals - Exercise! – In the immortal words of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t kill their husbands, they just don’t.” I propose we amend that statement to include kids. I’m a better mom when I’m consistently exercising. The Sportsplex offers a variety of group fitness classes for all fitness levels including high intensity interval training, yoga, and weight training classes. They also have a great cardio area upstairs and a full weight room downstairs, as well as the indoor pool for laps. Basically, they have it all.
