The Twin Lakes Wellness Center is up and running, with membership increasing almost weekly. However, the overall project prior to total completion is still ongoing and there will be some additional equipment and improvements made to the new facility in the months ahead.

The Wellness Center Board and Clinton Fiscal Court was informed recently that the amount of time allowed for use of funds from a state grant on the project has been extended to the middle of next year. And, as of now, around $280,000 in monies are still available and will be put to good use by the Wellness Center Board and county government.

Pastor Bobby Grant told the Clinton County News last week that membership at the Wellness Center was already up to around 940 people.

Grant said the project has progressed quicker than he would have thought at this point and added it was “tremendous that that many people have already joined” just a few months after the facility officially opened back in the spring.

Even though the facility is being used at all times and days it is open, some more improvements will be seen in the months ahead with the use of the remaining funds available.

Grant noted the priorities right now were a storage building for the Wellness Center, additional security cameras and hopefully there will be enough left for a child playground area and picnic shelter. A small skate park has also been suggested, but that item may depend on how far the remaining $280,000 goes on the aforementioned items.

There are also some other minor projects that are pending including mirrors in the aerobics and weight rooms and pull down security gate at the pool area.

Grant also said there were future plans for the center to offer two types of water aerobics, including one for all ages and another specified for arthritic people as a form of therapy for persons suffering with arthritis.

The Wellness Center has been promoting itself in a four to five county area for the past several months, including passing out free one-day passes for use of the facility. Grant noted that several thousand such day-use passes to advertise the new facility would be distributed in Clinton, Cumberland, Wayne and Pickett counties (and possibly Russell) to promote the new building and the many things it has to offer.

Grant noted that of the free one-day passes used, several persons who visited the facility had decided to join and he hopes the next blitz of free passes will also help increase membership.

Anyone can become a member by stopping by the Wellness Center and filling out an application. Grant said there was always someone available at the facility to assist with the forms, which can be filled out on site. “We’re open 87 hours per week,” he added.

Grant also said that anyone who hasn’t seen the facility is welcome to come by and employees there will give them a mini-tour.

“We try to keep the rates as low as possible and we also provide employment, especially for some young people such as life guards,” Grant noted.

He also attributed much of the quick success of the new Wellness Center to over 100 volunteers from the four county area of Clinton, Cumberland, Wayne and Pickett. Those individuals are helping with various YMCA type youth and adult activities that are offered as part of the facility itself.

Anyone interested in volunteering in any capacity may stop by the Center and fill out a volunteer application.