Co-Rec offering low-cost member options, joining Silver Sneakers

A fitness routine or family recreation can become a better fit for schedules and wallets with new, lower-priced membership options from the Division of Recreational Sports. Changes also include becoming a Silver Sneakers location.

Membership offers apply to faculty, staff, official retirees, part-time students and some others. New members at DRS (often referred to as the Co-Rec) and current members at renewal time will choose from one of three options:

* Full membership: $26.25 per month. This is the same full membership as offered now.

* Limited membership: $16.50 per month. Use is limited to opening time until 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday during academic sessions; during breaks and in summer, facility use is available during all operating hours.

* Weekend only membership: $11.50 per month. Use is limited to Friday, Saturday and Sunday operating hours year-round.

One advantage is that members of a family need not all select the same plan if their available times aren't alike. This "a la carte" approach can make family use of the facilities more economical. Also, Co-Rec parking lot passes are available for nonstudent household members; inquire at the Members Services desk.

Payroll deduction is an option. DRS membership entitles the holder to use of the Córdova Recreational Sports Center (CREC, or the Co-Rec), Boilermaker Aquatic Center (AQUA) and Turf Recreational Exercise Center (TREC). In addition to type of membership, facility use may be limited by special events or policies such as those for children.

The Co-Rec includes a fitness area exclusively for faculty and staff, as well as a recreational pool, spas, saunas, two indoor tracks, squash/racquetball courts and much more. Moreover, trained staff lead popular exercise and instructional classes plus personal training services, all offered for a modest fee, as are massage therapy and seasonal light therapy. Some of these services are available to nonmembers, as well.

The two limited-hours plans are designed to appeal especially to faculty, staff, retirees and alumni who wish to avoid peak hours or whose schedules make Monday-Thursday unworkable.

A summary of Co-Rec membership information is at  http://www.purdue.edu/recsports/membership_services/membership_eligibility_policies/membership_prices.php.

The Silver Sneakers affiliation is a boost for official retirees who are Medicare-eligible and enrolled in Purdue retiree group health insurance from UnitedHealthcare. UnitedHealthcare administers both the PURcare plan and a Medicare Advantage PPO plan that the Purdue University Retirees Association helps design and negotiate each year. 

Silver Sneakers is a program that pays for the insured retiree’s membership at any of about 11,000 approved fitness locations nationwide as an incentive to participate in fitness and wellness activity. The member can use any of those facilities (but only one per day) when traveling or living temporarily elsewhere. Among several Silver Sneakers locations in Greater Lafayette is Purdue's Ismail Center, and now the Co-Rec is a location, too.