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Date: Feb. 23, 2009 News Release Parks and Recreation Department Contact: Kelly Irvin/207-6122 Guinness Book of World Records event to celebrate community center opening The San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department invites the competitive souls who live in San Antonio to join staff in attempting to break the Guinness Book of World Record in tunnel ball, beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, in the parking lot of the new Enrique Barrera Community Center, 5800 Old Highway 90 West. “The new community center has a fitness focus and we wanted to do something active and fun to mark the occasion,” explains Assistant Director Janet Martin. “We really want to get the community involved in this in order to promote teamwork and help the neighborhood become aware of the center’s offerings.” Tunnel ball involves passing a ball backwards, over and under, in a straight line until the ball reaches the end of the line. That person runs to the front of the line and starts passing it again. This continues until everyone has come to the front of the line. The old Guinness Book of World Records is 150 people. The department hopes to have at least 200 people participate. Staff expects the event to take at least two hours. Water will be provided and participants are encouraged to dress comfortably. Getting into the book is no easy task. Martin notes that two independent observers are required. The event must be photographed and videotaped. Everyone participating must fill out paperwork to document their presence. “It’s no easy feat, but I know we’re going to be successful,” she says. “And it’ll be fun.” The tunnel ball event follows a formal dedication ceremony honoring former Councilman Enrique Barrera that begins at 10 a.m. Activities and demonstrations will also be offered inside the community center. The 22,000 square foot community center features a wellness component with fitness as its focus. It includes a fitness room with cardio equipment and weights, and an aerobics studio where dance classes such as zumba and jazzercise are offered. Multipurpose rooms will be used to host workshops on health and wellness related topics. The center is open to the public. Weight room membership fees are $25 for adults (18 and up) and $15 for seniors (55 and up). Classes are available for nominal fees. Hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday; and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call 207-3221. The center was part of a larger project in which the former Levi Strauss & Co. sewing plant was converted into office space for Parks and Recreation Department administrative, recreation, maintenance, warehouse and the park police academy. The headquarters opened earlier this year.
Comments can be sent to kelly.irvin@sanantonio.gov.
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