One of the reasons Jessie Everson appreciates Beloit is for its surplus of recreational activities.
From playing in winter volleyball leagues to biking to participating in summer pickle ball with her husband Tom, the mother of two takes full advantage of Beloit’s many offerings.
“We’re very active,” she says. “We try to get involved in something every weekend. If there’s a community event, we make sure to stop by. We take our three dogs to the dog park. Our son is involved in sports. There’s always something going on. It’s a great way to get involved with the community.”
When it comes to recreation, Beloit has just about everything residents need.
“The Krueger Municipal Pool, Krueger-Haskell Golf Course and Edwards Ice Arena are big features within the city,” says Spencer Waite, recreation supervisor for the City of Beloit. “We’ve had golf for more than 100 years, as well a senior center. There’s never a shortage of activities.”
The Edwards Ice Arena is an indoor/outdoor refrigerated rink open October through March. It is home to the Beloit Youth Hockey Association, Beloit Memorial High School hockey teams and the Rock County Fury.
The Krueger Municipal Pool is open from June through August, and offers a variety of swim programs for the community. “The pool is another historical landmark that was built in 1967 and updated in 1984,” says Waite.
There’s open swim Monday through Friday from noon to 5:30 p.m. and weekends from noon to 6 p.m. There are swim lessons for all ages, as well as low impact water aerobics Monday and Wednesday. The Krueger Pool is the home to the Krueger Pool Swim Team with over 180 kids. Every summer local swimmers ages 6 to 18 have the opportunity to practice and participate in swim meets. “They’re getting their feet wet in terms of what it takes to become a competitive swimmer,” says Waite. In addition, Krueger Pool was named the “best pool hands down in Rock County” in 2011 by the Janesville Gazette. Krueger Pool is also available to rent for birthday parties, family gatherings and other special events.
Krueger-Haskell Golf Course is located on the west side of Beloit. When the course opened it was originally a 9-hole course, but expanded to an 18-hole course in 1931. The unique layout features, mature trees and rolling terrain making it a challenging and enjoyable course for any golfer. Golf Digest also gave a high marking, by naming Krueger-Haskell Golf Course as a “Best Places to Play” in 2008-09.
The City of Beloit Dog Park, 2425 Springbrook Court, is 2.5 acres in size and is enclosed by fencing and divided into two separate areas: one for small breed dogs and another larger area for large breed dogs. Dog owners are required to either pay the daily fee, or they can purchase an annual dog tag that can be worn by their dog. “The dog park was built three years ago,” Waite says. “We have plans to bring in agility activities for the dogs in the near future.”
There’s plenty for older adults to do at Grinnell Hall, 631 Bluff St. “Grinnell Hall provides the senior community a place to visit and enjoy activities and meet new friends,” Waite says. Annual memberships are available. In addition to local programming, members enjoy various trips to destinations such as Lake Geneva, Chicago and Wisconsin Dells. Grinnell Hall is one of the meal sites for the Rock County Nutrition Program where well-balanced nutritious meals are served Monday through Friday at noon. People ages 60 and older are eligible to eat for a donation.
Speaking of special events, in June, recreation enthusiasts from all across the Midwest congregate in Beloit for an annual triathlon. The popular event includes a 400-yard swim at Krueger Pool, a 13-mile bike ride from the pool to country roads and a 5K run around Krueger Park.
“We’re trying to build a community through our parks and programs,” says Waite. “There’s a social aspect of getting out and taking part in recreational activities. Being active and getting involved with variety of recreation activities or amenities can provide such a benefit for a healthy lifestyle.”
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