The expansion of Sarnia's Strangway Centre is inevitable, according to city officials.
Staff were joined by members and local dignitaries to mark the centre's 30th anniversary Tuesday.
Superintendent of Recreation Shelley Kern says the centre has changed a lot in those three decades.
"I started [working] here 29 years ago, so I can definitely attest to the changes that have been happening," said Kern. "One of the biggest changes I've seen over the years is how much more active the programs have become. The younger age groups that are involved with all of the programs here -- because we do offer programs for 20 years and older."
Kern says memberships, offered to adults over 50, have proved so popular that the centre has been 'earmarked for expansion' in the latest parks and rec master plan.
"We actually use off-site locations to try and accommodate everything, so an expansion is definitely something that we would look forward too," she said.
Parks and Recreation Director Rob Harwood said there are a lot of good, healthy, 55-year-olds in the city looking for ways to stay active and fit.
"We have a lot of sport programs and there's a lot of things that happen outside of this centre," said Harwood. "We've got some ideas and visions that we're working on, we would love to see an attachment to this building, perhaps some form of conservatory, but that will take a lot of planning and a capital campaign to make it happen."
Over 500 people visit the centre each week to participate in over 60 programs.
A generous donation from William Strangway helped to pay for the centre, which opened in 1989.
