The Leader • Saturday, June 15, 2019 • Page 1B
Local club making splash
Hampton Inn and Suites Houston I-10 Central where our clean and fresh beds are waiting for you
Refurbished pool becoming popular spot
Time to Relax and Enjoy
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com The pool and surrounding area are fenced in and kept clean, and there is adequate seating as well as shade trees. It’s perfect for picnicking, too, since visitors can bring their own food and drinks. The best part about the swimming pool at the White Oak Conference Center, at least to those who have discovered it, is that hardly anyone is ever there. “I just like it because it’s never busy,” said Oak Forest resident Kasey Duncan, who swam there Sunday with her husband and two young children. That could soon change, because in its eighth summer of operation, word is catching on about the private pool that sells memberships to the public. It is operated by the Near Northwest Management District, which promotes infrastructure improvements and development in the area. The organization also makes its office in the building next to the pool, which was the clubhouse for the former Inwood Forest Golf and Country Club at 7603 Antoine Dr. Jan Whittington, facilities director for the Near Northwest Management District, said pool membership is up about 50 per-
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Photo by Adam Zuvanich Oak Forest resident Kasey Duncan, left, swims with her 20-month-old son, Liam, on Sunday at the pool at White Oak Conference Center, 7603 Antoine Dr.
cent this summer with an influx of swimmers from Oak Forest and Garden Oaks. She said the membership includes about 30 or 40 families in total. “Our membership is growing,” said
Wayne Norden, president of the Near Northwest Management District. “It’s not where we’d like it to be, but it is growing.” See Splash P. 3B
Thirty-six percent of American children ages 7-17, along with 15 percent of adults, swim at least six times annually
There are 10.4 million residential and 309,000 public swimming pools in the U.S.
Dr. Tyler Slagowski
An average of 10 people drown per day in the U.S.
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Sources: USA Swimming Foundation, Association of Pool Spa Professionals and thespruce.com
New youth center offers electrifying experience
Local business is our business. Send your story of interest news@theleadernews.com
By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com When Carrie Gordon was growing up in a military family, she said there were always youth and teen centers catering to children on military posts. “These teen centers always had fun board games to play, movies to watch, video games to challenge our friends to, some light workout equipment to stay in shape and finally some rooms to study or read,” Gordon said. The centers of Gordon’s youth also had monthly Saturday “outings” for parents, holiday dances to celebrate the seasons and summer excursions to various places where they learned about history or interesting facts about places. There also were tutors to help with homework, and they were places that catered to teens and allowed them to build friendships and camaraderie with their peers. Now Gordon and her husband, James, have a place like that to call their own and share with their community. They own the new Voltage Youth Recreation Center at 10606
Photo by Betsy Denson Voltage Youth Recreation Center owners James and Carrie Gordon with their children, 13-month-old Caroline and 13-year-old Scott.
Hempstead Rd. “We wanted a place where our youth could have fun being a teen,” Carrie Gordon said. After serving in the U.S. Army as a captain and in the Military Police Corps, Gordon settled in Houston and is now a first-grade teacher at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School. She and James have two children, 13-year-old Scott and 13-month-old Caroline, and now a new business. The Gordons wanted to find a location that was close to many major roads for the ease of drop-offs and pick-ups as well
as a location that was safe and large enough to house all their equipment. They also wanted to be close to local restaurants for parents to maximize their night out without going too far. The center will offer afterschool and summer programs for youngsters who are entering sixth grade through high school. There will be an open gym for basketball and some light exercise equipment as well as life-sized games such as chess, checkers, Connect Four and See Voltage P. 3B
Vacation Bible School July 8-12
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To schedule an appointment or check in online, visit memorialhermann.org/ccc or call 713.222.CARE. 1431 Studemont Street Houston, TX 77007 I-10 at Studemont