Paris Rec Center

Paris Rec Center The Youth and Community Recreation Center of East Central Illinois provides quality fitness and recreation for all ages.

The Rec Center Staff:
Erin Hutchison - Executive Director
Whitney Haase - Program Director
Tiffany Gale - Membership Team Leader: Accounts Receivable & Marketing/ Design
Kelly Nicholson - Membership Team Leader: Member Services & Team Supervisor
Drea McCulloch - Fitness Coordinator
Ben Lueken - Accounting/ Community Liaison
Maintenance/ Housekeeping Staff: Susan Scott, Camille Scott, Emma Scott,

Silas Mood, Breyton Waltz
Fitness Team: Drea McCulloch, Beth Graham, Lisa Foster, Adrienne Hall, Samantha Brinkerhoff, Camille Scott, Stephanie Lorenzen, Cierria Hires, Randy Turner
Front Desk/ Member Support: Kelly Nicholson, Traci Clodfelder, Teresa Reel, Jessica Collins, Camille Scott, Brett Block, Chandra Cravens
Babysitting Staff: Lizzie Eveland, Cathy Drake, Kandra Smith
School's Out/ Summer Camp - Whitney Haase, Lizzie Eveland, Seasonal Staff and Volunteers

We are re-sharing this post to make sure you all know:This opportunity is FREE FOR REC MEMBERS!An Exclusive Strength Tra...
05/22/2026

We are re-sharing this post to make sure you all know:

This opportunity is FREE FOR REC MEMBERS!

An Exclusive Strength Training program is coming to The Rec this summer!

Drew Pinkston, a recent Sports Medicine grad will be leading this 8 week course from June 2 - July 30.

This is perfect for those that feel like they need an extra push when it comes to lifting weights.
You may be familiar with the basics, but would really benefit from a structured program, tailored to your needs/abilities.

There will be an initial strength/fitness assessment and the class will work towards increasing those gains.

There are ONLY 12 SPOTS available due to the personal coaching and accountability support participants will receive.
There will be two training sessions per week (Tuesdays 6-7 pm and Thursdays 5-6 pm).

Take the guesswork out of strength training and use this summer to level up your confidence and strength!

Limited spots available!

Use this link to sign up https://operations.daxko.com/Online/2288/ProgramsV2/Home.mvc
OR
Visit The Rec or call 217-466-9622

An Exclusive Strength Training program is coming to The Rec this summer!Drew Pinkston, a recent Sports Medicine grad wil...
05/13/2026

An Exclusive Strength Training program is coming to The Rec this summer!

Drew Pinkston, a recent Sports Medicine grad will be leading this 8 week course from June 2 - July 30.

This is perfect for those that feel like they need an extra push when it comes to lifting weights.
You may be familiar with the basics, but would really benefit from a structured program, tailored to your needs/abilities.
There will be an initial strength/fitness assessment and the class will work towards increasing those gains.

There are ONLY 12 SPOTS available due to the personal coaching and accountability support participants will receive.

There will be two training sessions per week (Tuesdays 6-7 pm and Thursdays 5-6 pm).

Take the guesswork out of strength training and use this summer to level up your confidence and strength!

Limited spots available!

Use this link to sign up https://operations.daxko.com/Online/2288/ProgramsV2/Home.mvc

OR
Visit The Rec or call 217-466-9622

Sharing this from Aquatics at The Rec page - Be sure to follow us!🏊‍♀️Rec Summer Swim Team - Parent Information Meeting ...
04/23/2026

Sharing this from Aquatics at The Rec page - Be sure to follow us!

🏊‍♀️Rec Summer Swim Team - Parent Information Meeting 🏊‍♂️

It's back! Come learn what our summer swim team program is all about! Our focus is creating a fun, encouraging environment where swimmers can build confidence, improve their technique, increase endurance, and enjoy being part of a team.

Swim team is open to ages 5-18 of all ability levels, and previous swim team experience is not required. Swimmers should be able to swim at least 15 yards independently, with the goal of building skills to confidently complete the full 25-yard pool length (and beyond!).

Practices will be held daily, but attendance every day is not required - most swimmers may choose to attend 2–3 practices per week. Swim meets will be offered throughout the season, but participation is optional.

Can't make the meeting? Contact Alyssa at [email protected] to learn more.

We hope to see you on May 2 at the Rec!

Summer is right around the corner! Make sure your kids don’t miss out on all the fun. Get them signed up for T-Ball and...
04/14/2026

Summer is right around the corner!

Make sure your kids don’t miss out on all the fun.
Get them signed up for T-Ball and Summer Camp today!

T-Ball kicks off June 8th:
* Registration is open now through June 1st

Summer Camp Enrollment is OPEN:
* Spots are filling fast, so be sure to stop by the Rec Center to reserve your child’s spot

Your kids will enjoy:
* Summer kids movies
* Swimming at the Rec
* Exciting field trips (coming soon!)
* Games, crafts, and so much MORE!

Don’t wait!

Secure their spot for a summer full of fun, friends, and memories!

NEW CLASS ALERT! (First class begins in the morning)We’re excited to introduce Form First, a brand new strength trainin...
04/13/2026

NEW CLASS ALERT! (First class begins in the morning)

We’re excited to introduce Form First, a brand new strength training class, now on the schedule and led by our new instructor, Emily Thomas!

đź—“ Tuesdays
⏰ 9:35–10:20 AM

Build a strong foundation with this beginner-friendly class focused on proper form and technique. You’ll learn essential movements like squats, presses, rows and hinges using bodyweight and dumbbells, all in a supportive group setting.

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine your technique, this class will help you improve strength, posture, stamina and CONFIDENCE.

Join us in welcoming Emily and come see what Form First is all about!

For our final ShipREC’d gratitude post, we would like to thank our entire Auction Committee and Co-chairs Julee Dennis a...
03/31/2026

For our final ShipREC’d gratitude post, we would like to thank our entire Auction Committee and Co-chairs Julee Dennis and Danielle Colvin. Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough to cover the collective time, effort, intelligence, hard work and heart and soul that these ladies and this entire committee as a whole put into this fundraiser.

The Auction event is a monstrous undertaking, and there are many facets to manage in producing a successful fundraiser year after year.

Julee and Danielle start planning group meetings in September, with regular meeting times scheduled all the way up to the Auction, and complete everything with a wrap-up meeting following the event in March.

Two-thirds of the year is spent shaping up the Auction event in some way or another. This year’s committee worked so well together and went above and beyond to create another fabulous evening! Without the commitment, hard work and months of preparation, solicitation and coordination from these amazing people, this event would not be possible.

The 2026 Rec Center Auction Committee:
Julee Dennis, Rec board member and Auction committee co-chair
Danielle Colvin, Auction committee co-chair
Debbie Benefiel
Erin Hutchison
Millie Arp Hamilton
Callie Keys Cannady
Meghan Creech
Johna Todd
Tonya Westerfield
Tammy Hess
Shannon Jones
Jeni Lueken
Katie Schopmeyer
Kadie Boland

I would like to extend an extra special thank you to Steve and Debbie Benefiel. They graciously open their home for our meetings, and Steve provides invaluable behind-the-scenes support to our committee. With decades of experience, we rely on their knowledge and guidance every step of the way. This event would not be the same without these truly generous and wonderful people.

We are already looking forward to next year, when we gather under the lights for a Parisian soirée filled with charm, laughter and a touch of magic.

Photo credits are a mix of Moreschi Images, Julee Dennis, Danielle Colvin and Victoria Leitch/The Prairie Press

For today’s Auction fundraiser gratitude post, we would like to thank our beloved Rec Center employees. I consider myse...
03/30/2026

For today’s Auction fundraiser gratitude post, we would like to thank our beloved Rec Center employees. I consider myself blessed beyond measure to work with these beautiful, kind-hearted, committed and loyal individuals.

The Rec is fortunate to have such hard-working employees who enjoy what they do and love where they work. Not all Rec employees could work, attend or help specifically with the event itself, but regardless, their impact was and is felt in other vital ways behind the scenes that contribute to the whole.

Special thanks goes to our janitorial and housekeeping crew who worked extra hard to clean prior to the event and afterwards – Doug Johnson, Susan Scott, Abigail Maynard, Andrew Scott, Ruth Maynard and Emma Scott. Cleaning floors, toilets, messes and spills is a thankless job sometimes, but we could not be more grateful for these folks and their dedication to providing a clean atmosphere for our members and guests, not just for the Auction event, but every single day.

Thank you Angie Huffman for working the front desk on Auction day, and bringing us homemade cream cheese cookies to enjoy!

Special thanks also goes to our Rec Board of Directors. This group put their pocketbooks together to help purchase the restaurant and hotel gift card for the Fair Oaks Farm Adventure. All of our Board members attended the event, with the exception of one, who could not because they were out of town. But we felt them in spirit! Many board members sponsored tables for their employees, friends and families, and helped in one way or another. Thank you:
Drew Griffin
Steve Benefiel
Carol Jones
Bethany Wagoner
Julee Dennis
Mandy Neal
Susan Punzelt
Glenn Strow
Pete Dayton
Paula McClain
Stacie Hasler
Robert Morris

Thank you Doug Johnson, Traci Kissack and Brett Block for being at the Rec early Sunday morning and kicking tail on tear-down duties. You all worked quickly and efficiently, and it was quite impressive!
Thank you Whitney Haase and Susan Scott for getting in extra photos of our staff. We all had a ton of fun dressing to the theme and interacting with all the Pirate props!

Photos are mixed from Moreschi Images, Whitney Haase, Erin Hutchison, Victoria Leitch/The Prairie Press

We have one final gratitude post to wrap up our event, so stay tuned!

We would like to thank all the wonderful, hardworking service groups and individuals who aided in our Auction fundraiser...
03/25/2026

We would like to thank all the wonderful, hardworking service groups and individuals who aided in our Auction fundraiser set up and tear down, and to the special community groups and individuals who helped work the event.

SET UP:
Thank you to the entire Auction Committee, Johna Todd and Anita Rhodes, Rec staff and other important volunteers for assisting in setting up the major parts of our front gymnasium.

Thank you Steve Benefiel and Jeremy Whitaker for setting up the bar area, taking special care to make sure our gym floor was protected.

All of our decorators were mentioned in a separate dedicated post, but bears mentioning again… THANK YOU for your volunteerism.
Thanks again to John Sanchez with Moonlight Entertainment for the sound system donation and set up.

A huge shout out goes to the Mayo Redbird Leadership Squad (Kim Curl and Jacob Garver) for assistance with our event. These amazing young volunteers and their adult sponsors assisted with various tasks to help us – cleaning and sorting, setting up and rearranging tables and chairs and decorating task assistance. Your help has been invaluable!

Thanks again to Millie Arp Hamilton and her students, and Jessica Mayhugh for decorating the gym with all of your beautiful artwork!

Thank you to Coach Chip Keys for gathering the entire Paris Football program (JFL and High School) together – coaches, parents and players, to help assist in delivering tables and chairs, setting them all up, and putting chair socks on each chair to protect the floor.

Thank you to the Edgar County Shrine Club for the use of your tables and chairs.

EVENT VOLUNTEERS:
Thank you again to our bartenders for the evening, Angela, Rick and Emily.

Teresa Reel and Elizabeth Eveland provided coat check services. Thank you ladies! You always dress the part and have so much fun with the crowd!

Thank you to PHS Boys Basketball Coach Chase Brinkley and varsity basketball players Carter Eastham, Braylen Mills, Dawson Rogers and Parker Sanders for providing valet parking. This is a much appreciated service to our event.

Though previously mentioned, it bears mentioning again – thank you to the PHS Interact Club teens and sponsors Tammy Pittenger and MaryAnn Stallings for being superb wait staff.

Thank you again to our Edgar County Royalty (Chloe Martin and Taylor Shewey) for adding beauty to our event!

Thank you again to Matt Moss, Nick Avenatti and ring men for all the professionalism they brought to our event.

TEAR DOWN:
This part of the event is most definitely a labor of love. Huge shout out goes to the Mayo Redbird Leaders, Chip Keys and coaches and players with the JFL and PHS Football programs, Johna Todd, Rec staff, Auction Committee members and various volunteers for showing up Sunday morning to tear everything down and put it away until next year.

We are so very grateful for each and every one of you and your service to the Edgar County community through our event.

Photos are a mix of Moreschi Images, Erin Hutchison and Julee Dennis

We would like to feature all of the food vendors, food donors and service groups that provided for and assisted with the...
03/20/2026

We would like to feature all of the food vendors, food donors and service groups that provided for and assisted with the incredibly scrumptious meal for this year’s Dinner and Auction fundraising event.

Culinary decision making is a huge part of the event planning, and takes many individuals and groups to come together with good preparation and properly timed ex*****on.

Danielle Colvin and Johna Todd were our incredible food coordinators.
Johna provided our beautiful appetizers.
Granville Colvin & Danielle Colvin (Granville Colvin Edward Jones) provided the meat for the main course. Granville donated his renowned skills to smoke and prepare the meat, and he was assisted by Marty Adams.
Johna Todd with Sassy to Classy and Main Street Cafe shared the preparation for all of the tasty side dishes that paired so nicely with the provided meat.

The assorted dessert bar was provided by these wonderfully talented folks:
Kathy Rhoads with Sweet Country Rhoads
Pam Ludington’s Desserts by Dawson
Sharon Wright’s Rocking W Custom Baking
Bailey Campbell’s Blessed Baking
The Sugar Shack – Tiers of Elegance
Jessica Drake Hendrickson
Beth Graham
Tommy Lawson with Lawson’s Custom Confections
Joni Smith with Front Street Market
The Joe Keys family

Thank you Pete Templeton for providing the blessing for our meal.

The Paris High School Interact Club teens were our wait staff for the evening. This is a monstrous undertaking, and they all did a phenomenal job of serving. Special thanks goes to club sponsors Tammy Pittenger and MaryAnn Stallings for their coordination and help overseeing this task.

Several of the Interact Club teens actually ended up serving their parents! Paige captured several of these moments.

Thank you to our head volunteer bartender for the evening, Angela Laughead, and assistants Rick Dodd and Emily Kraemer, who kept the drinks and good times flowing!

Thank you ALL for sharing your time and talents and resources to create a truly magnificent meal and dining experience. We are forever grateful!

Photo credits go to Moreschi Images

For today’s gratitude post, we are featuring the Live Auction part of the evening. Our crowd continues to be amazing ye...
03/19/2026

For today’s gratitude post, we are featuring the Live Auction part of the evening.

Our crowd continues to be amazing year after year, and this year, everyone rocked! We all felt the positive spirit in the gym - the energy and playfulness of our attendees, the giving hearts of the bidders, the yells of the ring men, the smiles of our staff and volunteers walking the fantastic donations around the gym, and Matt Moss and Nick Avenatti’s amazing auctioneering.

A great portion of the live items sold for well into the thousands. There were many lively bidding wars, and one of the best ones produced the highest purchased item of the evening – Millie Arp Hamilton’s Mayo Art Club students created a one-of-a-kind treasure map of Paris and secured it in a beautiful frame. Prospect Bank won out at $4,300 and snagged an amazing treasure to proudly display at the Paris branch. Seeing this kind of philanthropic response from the crowd for a good cause is always heartwarming.

Thank you Matthew Moss, with the Moss Auction Team, for always being our lead Auctioneer year after year. Matt’s assistants this year were Nick Avenatti, David Hamilton, Drew Griffin and T Bradley Tucker. This group never fails to bring a lot of fun, smiles and laughter to the event as they work through the crowd and help recognize bids. Thank you gentlemen!

Much thanks goes to John Sanchez with Moonlight Entertainment, IL. for donating his sound system each year and setting it up in the gym. Everyone would literally be lost without it! The crowd continues to grow and John set up an additional 2 speaker in the back of the gym to help out.

We started something new in 2022, which has now become tradition. Edgar County’s royalty brings beauty and grace to our event each year as they mix with the crowd to sell 50/50 raffle tickets, help draw the raffle winners and show off items during the live auction. This year, we were graced by the presence of Edgar County Fair Queen Chloe Martin and Honeybee Festival Queen Taylor Shewey. They were stunning and incredibly helpful! Thank you ladies!

We had a surprise treat at the very end of the Auction – Rick Dodd offered to “Walk the Plank” if we raised $2,000 to benefit the Rec. The crowd accepted and pledged over the top to send him off the plank for $3,400. The crowd dispersed to the pool deck and watched the showdown. Thank you Rick for being the best sport and adding such a fun wrap up to the evening!

Stay tuned for a few more posts to finalize all of our thanks!

Photo credits are a mix of Moreschi Images/Madison Paige Moreschi, Millie Arp Hamilton, Victoria Leitch/ Prairie Press and Danielle Colvin (video credits).

We had all sorts of opportunities for individuals, couples and friend/family groups to get some beautiful photos taken a...
03/18/2026

We had all sorts of opportunities for individuals, couples and friend/family groups to get some beautiful photos taken at the Auction!

Just inside the gymnasium doors, Diana Thomas framed Kailey Young’s treasure map with balloon-constructed pillars to create a perfect posing site.

Huge thanks to The Prairie Press for attending and covering the whole event from start to finish, and to Victoria Leitch/The Prairie Press for capturing all these happy attendees!

Address

109 E Madison Street
Paris, IL
61944

Opening Hours

Monday 5am - 9pm
Tuesday 5am - 9pm
Wednesday 5am - 9pm
Thursday 5am - 9pm
Friday 5am - 7pm
Saturday 8am - 3pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+12174669622

Website

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