The Skagway Recreation Center will be closed until mid to late July for roof replacement and repainting.

     “All of the overhead work makes it not safe to have the facility open during construction,” said Brad Ryan, borough manager.

The renovations will cost about $473,000, with the job awarded to Island Contractors of Juneau. 

The recreation center has been closed since mid-March due to the COVID-19 shutdowns. Refunds are going out for membership fees back to that closure, and fees will not resume until the center reopens.

Before the new roof and repainting, the last time the facility was repaired was three years ago when the former equipment storage area was turned into an expanded weight room, said Katherine Nelson, facility director.

Before the weight room addition, about eight years earlier, new insulated siding and an arctic entry were added.

During the public health closure and the construction work, free alternative classes are being offered through Zoom or outdoors. One class being offered outside, with 10 to 15 feet of social distance between participants, is yoga. Participants are urged to bring their mats, blankets, straps and wear a mask. Class is 9:15 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday on the recreation center lawn.  

For those that prefer working out at home, pre-recorded classes can be found on the recreation center website https://skagwayrecreation.org/.

To help keep the community active, even at a distance, the facility is offering two challenges during June. The first is the June 2020 Walk/Run LOOP Challenge. Each participant can download the map online https://skagwayrecreation.org/special-events/ and complete the loop three times every week.

“This is a self-timed event and on your honor,” the center’s website says. Entry forms are due by July 1. Winners will be announced July 4. There are categories for male and female runners with the fastest, slowest and most-improved times.

The idea behind the June 2020 Self-Care Challenge is to “stay motivated to take better care of yourself throughout the month of June by receiving a beautiful motivational quote as a reminder to do something good for yourself,” the website says.

        The quotes will go out to participants at 1 a.m. weekdays. “You will then have 24 hours to complete an enjoyable self-care opportunity (suggestions are provided when you sign up or you can create your own). Record it on a paper calendar and at the end of the month simply take a screenshot of your completed calendar” and send it in. The winner gets a free massage.

Jaime Bricker, director of public relations at the White Pass & Yukon Route, said she had a bit of a tough time when the facility closed in the middle of winter due to COVID-19.

Bricker has a family membership. “Not having a recreation center the last couple of months reminds me to appreciate their services and I’m looking forward to seeing it new and improved,” she said.