The Derry Township Community Center (DTCC) membership fees include the use of the fitness center, participation in select group exercise classes, gymnasium, activity lounge, indoor lap pool, indoor leisure pool, outdoor pool, and spray ground. Unfortunately, Aquacise classes are an additional charge to membership fees and participants must pay an extra $5 per class. Additionally, DTCC lacks diversity in the crucial insurance plans they accept that allow financial accessibility to participants who would otherwise not be able to participate.
We are calling for Derry Township Community Center to eliminate the fees associated with Aquacise classes. These classes should be included in membership and should not be an additional charge.
When asked why aquacise classes are more costly, the Director of Derry Township Parks and Recreation stated, "As I am sure you are aware, pools are extremely expensive to construct, maintain, and staff. Unfortunately, we do have to charge a nominal fee for these programs in an attempt to try and offset these costs. The Township engaged the services of a consultant to make fee recommendations that will make our center economically viable, and the current aquatic programming fees were included as part of those recommendations."
It's unacceptable to charge for aquacise classes under the guise of "pools are extremely expensive," because members are allowed the use of the pool for lap swimming, water walking, and other aquatic exercises.
An article published October 27, 2022, in The Sun shares that the new Derry Township Community Center is more than adequately covering expenses with a $1.2 million surplus. Charging for aquacise classes is unacceptable, especially when it disproportionately impacts participants aged 55+ who can only exercise in water through these aquacise classes.
Signing this petition supports aquacise classes to be included in membership costs.
Updates
January 22, 2024
The growth of this petition shows that the current fee structure for Aquacise is not aligned with community expectations. My next step is to present these concerns to the parks and recreation board during their upcoming public hearing. I am currently drafting a formal letter that breaks down the inconsistencies in how facility costs are allocated.
Reached 100 supporters
January 22, 2024
79 Comments
Please consider doing away with the extra fee for the aqua exercise program. As a swimmer doing laps I do not pay. As a participant in aqua exercise I have to pay. Taking other classes, there are no extra fees. Please look into the equity of this and make a decision based on the fairness.
Hershey is a wealthy town with a global business at its center. It is unacceptable to rationalize charging middle aged to elderly individuals when they already pay a membership fee. You'd think they're trying to deter swimmers from coming. There's more than enough money to cover these costs.
Charging an additional fee (besides the membership fee) is not only cost prohibitive ($80 additional each month if you take class on two days a week=$960 additional cost), it is discriminatory (all of us are female senior citizens). Please discontinue this unfair charge.
I remember when AquaFit first started some senior women, who had Silver Sneakers and very much enjoyed and needed this program, had to quit because they could not afford the $5 fee.
I’m a member of active life but not old enough for sliver sneakers membership. I think it’s craY to charge so much for aquacise class when majority of participants are seniors or over 60. Water exercise is a necessity for aging people with arthritis, etc.
I hope this becomes a no charge activity for the members of the Derry Township
2025 benefit will have a program called FitOn health It would be great if community center were established as a location free of charge for exercise
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The Derry Township Community Center (DTCC) membership fees include the use of the fitness center, participation in select group exercise classes, gymnasium, activity lounge, indoor lap pool, indoor leisure pool, outdoor pool, and spray ground. Unfortunately, Aquacise classes are an additional charge to membership fees and participants must pay an extra $5 per class. Additionally, DTCC lacks diversity in the crucial insurance plans they accept that allow financial accessibility to participants who would otherwise not be able to participate.
We are calling for Derry Township Community Center to eliminate the fees associated with Aquacise classes. These classes should be included in membership and should not be an additional charge.
When asked why aquacise classes are more costly, the Director of Derry Township Parks and Recreation stated, "As I am sure you are aware, pools are extremely expensive to construct, maintain, and staff. Unfortunately, we do have to charge a nominal fee for these programs in an attempt to try and offset these costs. The Township engaged the services of a consultant to make fee recommendations that will make our center economically viable, and the current aquatic programming fees were included as part of those recommendations."
It's unacceptable to charge for aquacise classes under the guise of "pools are extremely expensive," because members are allowed the use of the pool for lap swimming, water walking, and other aquatic exercises.
An article published October 27, 2022, in The Sun shares that the new Derry Township Community Center is more than adequately covering expenses with a $1.2 million surplus. Charging for aquacise classes is unacceptable, especially when it disproportionately impacts participants aged 55+ who can only exercise in water through these aquacise classes.
Signing this petition supports aquacise classes to be included in membership costs.
Updates
January 22, 2024
The growth of this petition shows that the current fee structure for Aquacise is not aligned with community expectations. My next step is to present these concerns to the parks and recreation board during their upcoming public hearing. I am currently drafting a formal letter that breaks down the inconsistencies in how facility costs are allocated.
Reached 100 supporters
January 22, 2024
79 Comments
I had discussed this with a gentleman involved in the decision making, His concern was the overcrowding of the class if there was no fee. I disagreed then and I disagree now. A limit of participants can be set can be set and overcrowding will not be a problem.
Please consider doing away with the extra fee for the aqua exercise program. As a swimmer doing laps I do not pay. As a participant in aqua exercise I have to pay. Taking other classes, there are no extra fees. Please look into the equity of this and make a decision based on the fairness.
Hershey is a wealthy town with a global business at its center. It is unacceptable to rationalize charging middle aged to elderly individuals when they already pay a membership fee. You'd think they're trying to deter swimmers from coming. There's more than enough money to cover these costs.
Charging an additional fee (besides the membership fee) is not only cost prohibitive ($80 additional each month if you take class on two days a week=$960 additional cost), it is discriminatory (all of us are female senior citizens). Please discontinue this unfair charge.
I remember when AquaFit first started some senior women, who had Silver Sneakers and very much enjoyed and needed this program, had to quit because they could not afford the $5 fee.
I’m a member of active life but not old enough for sliver sneakers membership. I think it’s craY to charge so much for aquacise class when majority of participants are seniors or over 60. Water exercise is a necessity for aging people with arthritis, etc.
I hope this becomes a no charge activity for the members of the Derry Township
2025 benefit will have a program called FitOn health It would be great if community center were established as a location free of charge for exercise
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I had discussed this with a gentleman involved in the decision making, His concern was the overcrowding of the class if there was no fee. I disagreed then and I disagree now. A limit of participants can be set can be set and overcrowding will not be a problem.