Willow Glen Resident
News
Sports center has reopened, offering 'healthy lifestyle'
By Beth Hobbs
Smiles and laughter filled the California Kids Sports Center in Willow Glen as families helped celebrate the Sept. 29 grand reopening of the facility, formerly known as the California Sports Center. While the new gymnastic facility is one of seven California Sports Center locations in the Bay Area, it is also the fulfillment of larger vision.
"We have been in business for 20 years, but this is our first sports center built just for kids ages 6 months through grade school," says owner and director Dave Peterson. "It used to be one of our gyms. Now it is a kids' gym, and from here they can move on to other levels of gymnastics."
Walk into the newly remodeled center and you'll be tempted to remove your shoes and do a few cartwheels. The colorful walls frame a spring floor that puts a bounce in your step, "just like competitive gymnastic floors," says Peterson, who has taught gymnastics for 30 years.
Bright blue mats were thick and inviting to children who tried their own tumbling routines during the grand opening. All of the usual gymnastics equipment including parallel bars, balance beam and rings are present, but geared toward children 13 and under. A cage in one corner is used for safely practicing ball throwing and kicking in the sports skills development class.
This center grew out of what the Petersons saw as a need within the community. The philosophy is low stress but educational.
"Our foundation is high-quality gym instruction," says Peterson's wife, Anne. "Parents ask if their children are actually going to learn something. They are. They learn balance, gain core strength and flexibility and develop skills that help them in other sports. We are promoting a healthy lifestyle."
The Petersons also promote family fun and time together. The adjacent baby room is designed for parents and their babies to play, stretch and socialize in the Rug Bugs: Infant Exploration class.
"It is an opportunity for moms to have one-on-one baby time in their busy lives," Anne Peterson says.
An expanded schedule allows busy parents to put all their children into programs at one location at the same time.
Gymnast Christopher Brown is the manger of program development. A competitor on the UC-Berkeley and Junior Olympics teams, he now runs clinics for the 12-person staff to maintain safe, high- quality programs that offer opportunities for all children from recreational through team development classes. The entire staff is certified in CPR and first aid, and all equipment is inspected every morning.
A separate dance studio allows for a wide range of dance including a music and movement class for parents and their children, 18 months through 3 years of age. The dance program focuses on ballet and tap but includes classes in hip-hop, jazz and cheerleading.
While annual memberships are encouraged, parents can enroll their children for an eight-week session. A unique public "open explore hour," from 11 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, provides an opportunity for parents to bring their children ages 3 and older to play and explore for $5.
"It is a great activity for rainy days," Anne Peterson says.
The grand reopening coincided with Willow Glen's Founder's Day parade, giving a boost to both events.
"Our littlest guys were in strollers in the parade," she says, "followed by our optional level team gymnasts who compete nationwide.
"We love Willow Glen and kind of frame it with this location for kids and our team training facility at Lincoln Avenue and San Carlos," Anne Peterson says. "This is the perfect place for the child who is beginning and may never compete but can gain these skills for life. If we see incredible potential, we will make recommendations. We have other locations."
A community-centered, family-run business, California Sports Center has grown to host the largest girls competitive team and one of the largest boys programs in Northern California. Its Sunnyvale site also includes swimming, lifeguarding and water polo classes at Fremont High School, and it runs gymnastic programs for the cities of Santa Clara and Sunnyvale.
"This is a very, very fun business," Dave Peterson says.
The California Kids Sports Center is located at 832 Malone Road, Willow Glen. It is open for classes Monday through Saturday, and on weekends for special events by appointment. For more information call 408.269.5437 or visit www.calsportscenter.com.
