Please retain senior exercise class as is

I have lived in Elk Grove Village for 47 years and paid taxes to support the Elk Grove Park District since its inception. I have enjoyed the many programs it has provided, especially its exercise program. Our children and grandchildren live here too and are involved in park district programs.

I retired from Motorola's accounting department in spring 1997 and immediately started going to the 8 a.m. exercise class Monday-Friday, "CoRec Fitness" led by Carla B.

Since my husband retired 10 years ago he has joined me in Carla's morning class, now called "Get Movin". This class averages about 75 percent over the age of 60, some 70+ and a couple of 80s. It is a good workout for people in my age group.

In the winter catalog it now shows the 8 a.m. class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday as "Cardio"(TBD). (I hope the To Be Determined will be influenced by this letter.)

I think the new manager of the Pavilion needs to stop in the present 8 a.m. class and talk to the people who are paying taxes that pay her salary.

I think she will find out these people are dedicated to working out but are limited by various age-related problems and don't want the class to be changed to a different format. This is a discrimination to seniors who have memberships at the Pavilion. This is probably the only program there that is geared to active but not overactive seniors.

The class was told if we wanted the same format we would have to go upstairs and get a mat and bring it downstairs to the dance exercise room. I can just imagine 15 people carrying mats downstairs and someone tripping and breaking a hip or leg - or 15 people carrying mats and being stuffed into the elevator with them.

I realize when new management comes in they want to change things for the better but this is not good planning. The people in this class are not squeaky wheels getting your attention but we will become 15 or 20 unhappy customers.

Please stop in and get our opinions.

Jean O'Malley

Elk Grove Village