Wayside Racquet and Swim Club
'A community within the community'
By Becki Harrington-Davis Contributing Writer

(l to r) Personal trainer Tim Crowley works with Victoria Bane in the fitness room at Wayside Racquet and Swim Club. PHOTO/BECKI HARRINGTON-DAVIS

Marlborough - Part of the Marlborough neighborhood since 1976, Wayside Racquet and Swim Club has been enjoyed by a generation. Children have grown up and brought new youth into the facility, and many seniors continue to enjoy the scene. With over 3,000 members, a true community has formed around all Wayside has to off er.

Wayside, Marlborough's only true multipurpose facility, holds six tennis courts, four racquetball courts, and both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, in addition to its extensive class programming, fitness center and new personal training program. For added convenience, Wayside also offers babysitting, massage and a full bar.

"One of the keys to Wayside's success," General Manager Darren McLaughlin said, "is probably the fact that it is multipurpose … that we cater to such a wide market of people, because we off er so many different things."

McLaughlin, who has been a member of the full-time management team at the club for 21 years, said many groups of people enjoy the facility throughout a given day. He described the "breakfast club" (people who come in before work), committed tennis players, seniors, the lunch break crowd, the kids who come for after-school programs, and the after-work bunch.

The senior population is an especially social group, McLaughlin said, often playing cards and celebrating birthdays in the club's lobby.

But the common denominator in all friendships made at Wayside is fitness. The wide variety of programming available includes group classes such as Cardio Kickboxing, Pilates, Spinning, Water Fitness, Svaroopa Yoga and Zumba, a hot new class combining Latin dance music with exercise moves. Other programs are targeted toward seniors or children, such as "Tumbleweeds," a toddler class.

Many members also enjoy playing in racquetball and tennis leagues, and swimming instruction for all levels, starting with "Waterbabies" for infants and their parents. The leagues inspire fun and competition, helping members keep their commitment to fitness fresh.

"There are two different types of people," McLaughlin said, "those who need a game to get their exercise in, and those who can come in and get on a treadmill or an elliptical or a stair climber and just work to their heart's content."

One of the latest trends in health clubs, according to McLaughlin, is performance training. Wayside off ers sportspecifi c personal training for high school athletes to perfect their game, as well as personal training and small group training for anyone looking to get fit.

Wayside is involved in the local community. It holds several large races each year such as the Lions Club triathlon and a race to benefit the Chamber of Commerce scholarships. Wayside also partners with local schools via the Cardio Kids program, in which kids go to Wayside after school to participate in a cardiovascular program designed for their age group.

Wayside's theme of "community" continues all the way to its employees, many who have worked at Wayside for 10 years or more.

Wayside Racquet and Swim Club is located at 80 Broadmeadow Road in Marlborough, and the website is www.wayside.net. The phone number is 508-481-1797.

Editor's Note: the preceding is not an endorsement and is presented for informational purposes only.