Community Center Keeps City Sporty, Active

COLTON >> While Colton can be known by locals for its history, it can also be known for its sports heritage. The Frank A. Gonzales Community Center pays its respects to that heritage through holding programs and activities for its community members, along with offering a variety of resources, including but not limited to a basketball gymnasium and a dance room for recreational use. Though it is one of four neighborhood community centers available for residents to use in Colton, it is the largest city facility. Both youth and adult alike can take advantage of the amenities offered from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, with hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Membership forms are available online, and the center can be contacted by calling 909-370-5099. Gonzales Community Center was originally named “Colton Community Center” but was renamed in 2003 after former Mayor and Councilmember Frank Gonzales. Gonzales spent six terms as mayor and three terms as councilman and not only helped bring about the community center, but also Colton Area Museum, the Colton Main Library and Lawrence Hutton Community Center. Several opportunities for sport are available at Gonzales Community Center, for all ages. Seasonal sports are available for tots, ages 3 to 5, along with toddler tumbling. Youth sports are also offered seasonally for ages 5 to 12, as well as a Colton Youth Basketball League. Teens can get involved with teen basketball, designed for ages 13 to 17, and an adult basketball league is for those 18 and older interested in shooting hoops. A wide range of other classes and activities are offered for those of all ages and skill levels. Residents can partake in dance fitness, gymnastics, hip hop, ballet, Polynesian dance, beginning guitar and karate classes, among many others. A full list is available through the City of Colton’s website. If you are interested in being involved in more than one opportunity, perhaps a member is what you are looking for. As a member with an Adult Fitness Pass, you have unlimited access to the weight room, basketball gymnasium and one hour a day of the racquetball court. You can also partake in lap swimming during select days and times, senior exercise and drop-in basketball. Annual prices are $181 for residents of Colton and $283 for nonresidents. A three-month pass is $51 for residents, $78 for nonresidents, and a monthly pass is $21 for residents and $32 for nonresidents. Senior discounts apply for the monthly and three-month passes. Family Fitness Passes are also available for two adults, as well as daily passes at $2 for residents and $4 for nonresidents. Senior discounts also apply. Gonzales Community Center not only pays tribute to Colton’s sports heritage through the activities it offers, but also through the Sports Hall of Fame, housed at the center. Every year in the spring, a ceremony inducts new legends. Most recently, 1930s-1970s Colton Mercurys Softball-Baseball Team was inducted. Colton greats Ken Hubbs and Max Lofy were both inducted in 2006, and last year, the Colton Centrals/Cubs Baseball Team from the 1920s to 1930s made their home at the community center Hall of Fame. “Colton is an awesome place,” said Paul Rasso, Recreation and Parks Commission chairman and master of the 2015 induction ceremonies, in a previous article with City News Group. “There’s so much sports history here.” Current Mayor Richard De LA Rosa previously said the athletes that have been inducted in the past have been an inspiration to the youth of today. “It’s because of them that the support for our youth sport is so strong,” De La Rosa said. “Because of you guys, they want to be the next Hall of Famer.” If you are interested in getting yourself or a child involved in youth sports, or in becoming involved with an adult league or classes, check out the Gonzales Community Center, located at 670 Colton Ave., Colton CA 92324.