Wayne Recreation Center now HYPE Athletics

Long time recreation member Ron Hays is takes a break from his workout to take a picture with CEO of HYPE Athletics, Ali Sayed. Wayne Dispatch photo by John P. Rhaesa

By Carolyn Marnon – When the Wayne City Council approved the 2015-2016 budget, they voted to close the Community Center due to funding constraints, effective July 1. In August, an agreement was reached with HYPE Athletics to keep the building open.  HYPE Athletics has now moved into the building and has started renovations to improve the facility.
Although those who are members of HYPE Athletics will have priority for use of the facilities, there is discussion within HYPE to possibly provide day passes for certain features, such as the swimming pool and the basketball courts.
New resistance-training and cardiovascular equipment has been installed in the cardio room. This is a co-ed fitness area.  For the uninformed, some pieces of equipment do have instructions showing you how to use that piece of equipment.  Ali Sayed, CEO of HYPE Athletics, wants people to ask if they need help learning how to use something.  There are cam and pulley machines, dumbbells and barbells, treadmills, elliptical trainers, spinners, stairmasters and more.
The swimming pool is scheduled to open in early October.  Water aerobics classes, youth swim lessons, and lap swimming will be offered.  Life guards will be on duty. Birthday parties can be held at the pool once again.
Plans are being made for group fitness classes including co-ed, women’s only, age 50 and above and youth.  Classes will be offered free to all members.  A fitness calendar will be provided on a monthly basis.
HYPE has invested in their membership and is excited to launch the newest gym addition. The HYPE FitXtreme class includes a custom built Crossfit Rig with elevation monkey bars, TRX bands, slam balls, rubber plates, weighted battle ropes, kettlebells, resistance bands, and more.  The FitXtreme room will be open to members during non-class hours.
Work is currently underway renovating the old ice rink into professional grade hardwood basketball courts.  The children and adult courts will be available daily except during holidays and special events. The locker rooms in the ice rink are being remodeled into classrooms for the afterschool programs and into a nursery. Members will be able to use up to 2 hours of free childcare daily (ages 1-5) while they workout.
The warming room in the ice rink will become a café offering sandwiches, burgers, wraps, salads, tea, coffee and fresh smoothies and protein shakes.
There will also be personal training available, a mixed martial arts studio and adult and youth educational resources available at HYPE Athletics.  In addition, banquet room rentals will still be available.
HYPE is currently evaluating the use of the wallyball and racquetball courts.  If they don’t get enough use by members, it is possible they will be turned into something else.
The men’s locker room in the back of the building is currently being remodeled with new tile and other upgrades to give it a fresh look.
There are currently 13-15 employees.  Of those, 9 former employees of the rec center applied and interviewed for positions and were hired.  Not all former employees applied for jobs with HYPE.
HYPE currently has about 600 members—400 of those are existing members of the former rec center.  200 are new members in the last few weeks.
Ali Sayed, HYPE CEO, plans to be at the building a lot during the first few months of operation. He wants to be involved in everything and get to know all the members.  After that, he will be working between the Wayne center and the HYPE Athletics center in Dearborn Heights.
New employee, Irene Ivanac, is excited about all the changes.  She is the new Community and Corporate Relations person. “Our boss is right here in the trenches,” she said.  “I don’t like to be called the boss. I’m just Ali,” responded the CEO.  Irene will be out in the community promoting HYPE and all it has to offer the residents of Wayne.
Membership at the Wayne HYPE will also get you access to the Dearborn Heights HYPE. HYPE is currently offering tours of the Wayne center so you can see all that they will be offering starting in early October.