"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Cherokee Nation Welcomes Community

"**June Maher, Cherokee Nation Healthy Nation employee, tries out some of the new strength training equipment at the Male Seminary Family Recreation Center.**"

TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation officially opened the tribe’s new Male Seminary Family Recreation Center on Tuesday with an open house and ribbon cutting at the facility located off of 4th Street in Tahlequah.

The new recreation center occupies the former site of the Cherokee National Male Seminary educational institution, which burned in 1912. The land later housed a private Christian school called Markoma Bible Academy. The Cherokee Nation again purchased the nearly 120-acre historic property in September, 2005. More than a workout center, the new 25,000 square-feet recreation center is fashioned after successful community recreation and fitness centers like the YMCA and YWCA programs focused on families and offered in many large cities. It is staffed by ten full-time and ten part-time employees, and is open to the public.

“One aspect of our long-range health initiative is to have healthy Cherokee families and communities. This family recreational center, located on the former site of the Cherokee Male Seminary, is one way to reach that goal. We offer it for use to not only Cherokees, but to all those living in the area,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.

Ongoing activities at the center include a variety of cardiovascular and strength training equipment, physical activity classes including yoga, aerobics, kick-boxing and core training, recreation leagues for adults and youth in basketball, softball, soccer and Cherokee stickball, health promotion classes including smoking cessation, healthy cooking, senior fitness and nutrition, and walking/running introductory classes. The center also offers nationally certified personal trainers to assess individual needs for physical activity, nutrition and health promotion. On-site trainers will also develop personalized training plans based on individual needs.

The open house featured a grand-opening program and official ribbon cutting, followed by tours of the facility. Representatives of several Cherokee Nation Health Services programs were in attendance with informational booths to answer questions from those attending the event. Programs represented included Wings running club, center classes and leagues, Cherokee Elder Care, cancer programs, diabetes programs, home health and behavioral health.

The center is located at 1501 Graham Avenue, just off of 4th Street behind Cherokee Elder Care and Go Ye Village. The facility can be used free of charge by Cherokee Nation citizens and employees, and their immediate families. A small monthly fee will be required for all others. Hours of operation for the center are Monday through Thursday 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

For more information contact the center, phone: 918-453-5496.