Branchwood readies for opening

Lynn Atkins/The Weekly Vista When Branchwood reopens this month, a new facility manager, Jessica Anson, will be in charge. Her goal is to get people to come out and exercise.
Lynn Atkins/The Weekly Vista When Branchwood reopens this month, a new facility manager, Jessica Anson, will be in charge. Her goal is to get people to come out and exercise.

When the last scheduled construction tour of the Branchwood Clubhouse was held on Sept. 11, there was still no official opening date announced, but POA officials agreed that it would open later in the month. About 80 members toured the facility in September. Two tours held in August drew an estimated 250 members.

The expansion added a large room for classes, as well as more space for the exercise equipment. The locker rooms and the lobby were renovated.

A new manager will open the new facility. Jessica Anson managed the beach at Lake Avalon last summer. She just moved into the position of aquatics and facility manager at Branchwood.

Anson was teaching third grade in Springdale, but she majored in kinesiology in college with the goal of becoming a physical education teacher. She accepted the job at Lake Avalon because she had the summer off but then agreed to stay with the POA.

"I love being outdoors," she explained. She's also interested in fitness.

Her goal at Branchwood is to get more people to come in and exercise. Eventually, she hopes to expand the classes that are offered, adding tai chi and yoga.

She expects the new disc golf course to be popular. There are demonstrations planned so members can learn about the sport, and discs will be for sale inside the facility.

Customer service is important, Anson said, but she believes her staff already understands that.

The facility may be open this weekend, but no final decision was made at press time.

Sports on 09/19/2018