Township, Public Access to Bensalem High Gym/Community Center Will Take A While

With $2 million coming from township coffers and another $2 million obtained by the municipality from the state, the recently opened $15 million gym at has always been considered a community center as well.

Bur school district business director Jack Myers said this week that it will take a little time to figure out the details of access for the township, community groups and local residents.

And Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo said he is “cautiously optimistic” the pending written agreement outlining those details will satisfy everyone who wants to use the “magnificent … first-class” facility.

“I would suggest a target date of late February,” Myers said, while adding the district is heading into a “very intense” budget time while also reviewing four charter school applications.

In the meantime, Myers said the township and community groups can make requests to the district.

“We've never turned down the township for use of our facilities,” he said.

The 45,000-square-foot facility was formally dedicated this past weekend after several delays. It features a three-court gym with seating for 1,700 and an elevated track.

Both the mayor and Myers pointed out the intergovernmental agreement between the district and township that was required as a result of the township funding and matching state grant. That agreement, Myers said, calls for the district to make the facility available during non-school hours for township-sponsored activities and community groups. It also gives the district the right to charge for custodial, utility and security costs, he said.

Myers said the pending agreement will be modeled largely after the district's use of its pools at the high school and Shafer Middle School. The open swim at BHS costs $3 per person, while seniors swim free.

The district's fees for use of its gyms came under fire this summer. As a result, the district rescinded most of the planned increases.

“We have a long history of making our facilities available,” Myers said. “We want to make the gym available to individuals to walk the track and shoot some hoops. We want to try to mirror the manner in which we make our pools available, with public swims and swims for seniors. We're just trying to work out the mechanics of that.”

Myers added that extra space was included to have room for fitness equipment.

“Perhaps we could look for some donations for that,” he said.

The mayor said he sees no problem waiting until late February for the written agreement on community use.

“It is our understanding we will have our fair share of time, with the school district always coming first. After that, it will be divided between the community and the township's recreation department,” he said.

DiGirolamo added his desire that district fees for local groups be affordable.

“These clubs can't afford tens of thousands of dollars,” he said.

In addition to the pending written agreement, Myers said the district and township will meet annually, probably in June or July, to discuss the recreation department's desires.