The new Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) location at West Towne Mall, 7333 W. Towne Way, is now open and available for those interested in recreational activities and programs. This location is 30,000 square feet and has offices for 12 staff, a spacious lobby and welcoming/reception area.
Janet Dyer serves as the MSCR executive director and has worked with the organization for 38 years. She is excited about the new location opening because its the largest space the organization has held.
(Photo by Angelica Euseary)
The process for the new space began in 2020 when the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) had a referendum that was passed to upgrade facilities in the district. MSCR’s previous main office, the Hoyt building, was on that list, which is now being repurposed to Capital High School.
Programming will start at the new location on Monday, June 19. Dyer and her team are looking forward to welcoming community members from Madison and surrounding areas.
“Our programs are really open to everyone,” Dyer said. “We serve every age group, every demographic. MSCR West will have preschool programming all the way up to programming in our Goodman Rotary Senior Fitness programs, which serve individuals that are 50 and older.”
(Photo by Angelica Euseary)
At the new MSCR West location, there are plenty of meeting rooms and eight program spaces, including studio spaces for pottery and dance, a gym with two pickleball courts, a volleyball court and a half basketball court.
The programs and activities at MSCR are open to residents of all ages. Dyer talked about the assistance program available to those who aren’t able to pay for sessions in full. Their team wants everyone to be able to access the resources available to them, no matter what.
“No one is excluded from participating if they aren’t able to pay the full fees, or even part of the fee,” Dyer said. “We have a very generous fee assistance program. We welcome everyone to come in and try a program.
(Photo by Angelica Euseary)
“There’s viewing windows in most of the program spaces. We invite people to come, watch and check out programs to see if they can find something they like.”
The MSCR Summer 2023 Program Guide features information about classes and recreational opportunities that are currently available. The MSCR Fall 2023 Program Guide will be released on August 6.
The new space also has murals of former and present MSCR participants. Dyer and her team wanted to have these murals installed so the space is welcoming and an accurate, authentic reflection of the community.
“We have five floor-to-ceiling murals featuring MSCR participants,” Dyer added. “We also have another mural that features athletes from the Madison Metropolitan School District high schools.
“Some people may be surprised when they come and see themselves in one of our murals. That’s one of the features that I really like about the new facility. Those murals represent everything that we do.”
Dyer hopes community members join the MSCR team at their open house for the new location on August 9 which will feature tours, sample programs and light refreshments. For more information about MSCR, visit their website.
