The Worthington Community Center has been a pillar of the community for over 20 years. Everyone belongs here, from toddlers to retirees. It is known as a place entirely built on learning and recreation. It is not often recognized for what it really is, and the opportunities and services it provides are priceless.

One of the most important things in our everyday life is social interaction. Humans are social creatures, and we actually need consistent time with others in order to function properly. Colleen Light is Worthington’s parks and recreation superintendent, and she believes that this is the core aim of the community center. 

“The way the community interacts with this building, it’s enriching.” Light has been working at the community center for its entire modern lifespan. “We can literally watch people go from infancy to adulthood, and then beyond that. We’re letting parents interact with their kids, grandparents with their grandchildren. Giving people something to do with each other is vital. What place can say that they can watch their community grow up in their four walls?”

In order to deliver such a unique and special experience, something important must be present, and that is programming. The community center has numerous available programs for all. Light speaks of a few that are the most prominent.

“Camps immediately come to mind, providing kids with something to do over the summer is really great. Swim lessons too, those are life saving skills, and giving people that opportunity is one of the best things that we can do. The fitness area is able to provide overall wellness to adults. In our senior programming as well, we are able to keep attacking social isolation and push people together.”

Yet another thing the community center does well is providing employment opportunities.  The pool has over 50 Lifeguards who work to keep patrons safe, and a large chunk of these Lifeguards attend Thomas Worthington. Liam Kenny (Junior) is one of them, and he has been a Lifeguard since his Freshman year.

“It’s a very nice place to work at,” Kenny says. “It’s helped me build a lot of positive relationships with people, and I’ve had a really great time working here. I think other people who work here from Thomas would say the same thing. The managers are great, the hours are great, it’s overall a good place to work especially if you’re in high school.”

Above all, the community center is able to be a hub for nurturing and relationship enrichment. Not a lot of places can function in that way. It brings so much to the community, whether it be from programming, job opportunities, or just generally being a place to gather. Worthington would not be the same without the recreations department and buildings like the community center. 

“It’s a place where people choose to have fun,” says Light.