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Recreational Services Announcements

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Work on the Rec Center track repairs is scheduled to begin May 4.  We anticipate the repairs to be completed in late August, including an entirely new track surface.  For everyone’s safety, the gym courts will be closed beginning May 4 through completion of the track repairs.

Part of the repair work will begin with removing the damaged portion of the track.  Unfortunately, due to the smoke and fire risk associated with cutting steel & concrete, the Rec Center is required to be closed from May 15 – June 7.  As such, we have made the following arrangements:

  • Students
    • Enrolled for the summer semester: will be eligible for access to the downtown Flint YMCA. More info on how to activate this free access will be emailed to eligible students in early May.
    • Not enrolled for the summer semester: will not be eligible for temporary YMCA access. However, if you are continuing at UM-Flint this fall, your free summer access to the UM-Flint Rec Center remains in place May 4-14, and resumes when we reopen June 8.
  • Members
    • All members: (except SilverSneakers) will have access to the Insight Health & Fitness Center at 4500 Saginaw Street, located just three miles south of campus. More info on how to activate this free access will be emailed to members in early May.
    • SilverSneakers: will need to contact Insight Health & Fitness Center or another participating SilverSneakers facility to set up their access. You can be a member at more than one SilverSneakers facility at a time, and you may find other participating SilverSneakers locations near you.

We appreciate everyone’s understanding as we navigate these critical repairs and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the Rec Center on June 8 after this temporary closure.

Friday, March 27, 2026

We are happy to share that track repair work is expected to begin in May, with completion anticipated in late August. The damaged portion of the track will be removed and rebuilt, and flooring will be upgraded and replaced around the entire track. We’re excited to move forward with these improvements and to welcome everyone back to a refreshed track.

We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding during this unexpected track closure and repair process. We will post an update here with more information once we have specific dates and safety plans approved by U-M.

Friday, January 9, 2026

We are happy to announce that the gym courts are now open!

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

The gym courts will be reopening the second week of January. A barrier is currently being installed around the track supports, so the courts can be safely used for all regular activities. Only a small portion of the center court, underneath the track, will remain unusable. We will post the exact reopening date once it is confirmed by our contractors.

We continue to move forward with our elevated running track repair plans and will share more information when it is available. In the meantime, please check out our treadmills in the cardio room on the upper level – our weight room staff can assist you with any questions.

Monday, November 3, 2025

Recreational Services thanks you for your patience as we work through the complicated process of assessing and planning repairs for the Rec Center track. Over the past several months, our Facility & Operations team has been working with third-party vendors to evaluate the damaged area and develop a plan for safe and lasting repairs.

This behind the scenes work involves several steps, including obtaining cost estimates, engineering and architectural drawings, permitting, and more before work can begin. The university has approved the repair cost, but we are still awaiting information on the reopening timeline for the track and gym courts. We will share details with the campus community and rec members as soon as they’re available.

We appreciate your continued understanding and support as we move closer to restoring these vital campus recreation spaces.

Friday, September 5, 2025

We have received the engineer’s initial review of the track, and we are now waiting on the engineer’s drawings for repairs, as well as their ideas for how we can safely open the gym courts for play. Once we have those drawings, the University will then ask construction companies to bid on the work and provide a repair timeline. We expect to have the repair timeline in October and unfortunately will not have a track or gym court reopening date until then.

During this time, we are looking for alternative opportunities to expand our offerings, including opening an on-campus outdoor pickleball court for drop-in use. We will have an update on this soon, which will be shared on our outdoor recreation page.

We understand this has been a frustrating time as we work through this process, and appreciate your patience and understanding. While it is a priority for us to get these spaces back online as soon as possible, we also need to ensure we do so safely and appropriately. If you would like to cancel or put your membership on hold until we are able to get the track and courts open, please fill out this form. Once you have done so, our Member Services team will reach out to confirm your request.

Track and gym courts remain closed – Monday, August 18, 2025

The track and gym courts remain closed. We received the third-party engineer’s report regarding the extensive repairs needed for the track structure. Our next step is to hire a structural engineering firm to develop the necessary drawings and details. Once complete, we will obtain bids and pricing for repairs. Getting these spaces back online is our top priority, and we will look at all possible scenarios to reopen the track and gym spaces as safely and quickly as possible.

We eagerly await this information and will share an update here and with students and members directly as soon as we have details.

Email to members – Friday, August 1, 2025

We are pleased to announce that the Rec Center will reopen on Aug. 4. However, due to damage to a section of the track structure, the track and gym courts will remain closed until further notice. An engineer has thoroughly inspected the affected area and confirmed it is secure, but extensive repairs are necessary before these spaces can safely reopen.

We understand this situation may be disappointing and inconvenient, and we sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we complete the repairs. We will provide additional information as soon as we have an updated timeline for reopening the track and gym courts.

As compensation for the closure dates, we are offering the following:

  • Monthly and annual members: Membership expiration dates will be extended by eight days. Request the extension at the front counter or reply to this email.
  • Lifetime and perpetual members: Two complimentary guest passes will be available through Aug. 1, 2026 (a $30 value).

Additionally, if you wish to cancel or pause your membership due to the ongoing track and gym court closure, please complete the UM-Flint Rec Center Refund Request Form.

Please join us in thanking the UM-Flint Facilities & Operations team for addressing this matter as quickly and safely as possible. We look forward to welcoming you back to the Rec Center on Aug. 4.

Email to members – Tuesday, July 29, 2025

We appreciate your continued patience as we work closely with UM-Flint Facilities & Operations on indoor track repairs, including structural supports and isolating a part of our fire suppression system. Unfortunately, we cannot open the Rec Center until these matters are fully addressed. 

We recognize the importance of these spaces to you and the rest of our campus community. Please know we’re working as quickly and carefully as possible to address the necessary repairs. Our next update will come as soon as the repair experts confirm a reopening timeline.

Thank you again for your understanding and support as we work to address this emergency facility maintenance.

Email to members – Friday, July 25, 2025

Thank you for your continued patience during our emergency building closure. We are currently evaluating and repairing the track.

At this time, we anticipate the building will remain closed through at least Tuesday, July 29. Upon reopening, the track and at least a portion of the gym floor will remain closed until all necessary repairs are completed.  We will provide another email update with specifics on Monday or Tuesday.

The safety of our members and staff remains our top priority. We appreciate your understanding and support as we work to resolve this issue.

Email to members – Thursday, July 24, 2025

Earlier this evening, a structural issue in the Rec Center running track area was detected. As a result, the Rec Center was closed early and will remain closed for at least Friday, July 25, until a thorough inspection is completed and the situation is fully understood.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as our campus Facilities and Operations team assesses and addresses the issue. The safety and well-being of our users remain our top priority, and we’ll provide an update tomorrow.