Road Trip to Normal, IL

Graceland Volunteer Advisory Committee Visit to Normal Il January 7, 2026

Visit to the Normal Township

Activity and Recreational Center (ARC)

On January 7th, 2026 most of the Graceland Center Volunteer Advisory Committee hopped on a van and "journeyed to the Promised Land" to visit the Activity and Recreation Center in Normal, Il. We went to witness in person the magic that a well planned and financed senior center creates for a community and its older adults.

We were awed at the spacious modern welcoming foyer and coffee center. We walked past dozens of gathering spaces for classes, playing cards and games, yoga, dancing, exercise, a pickellball court, exercise equipment room, library, computer room, and even an auditorium! There were spaces for social service consults, meals, and even health care assistance!

Be sure to see our Facebook post for all the photos. We are all very motivated to keep our momentum going to create a similar facility in Peoria!

See below to read more about the ARC

https://activityandrecreationcenter.org/about-us

Learn About ARC's History

Serving the 55+ Community for Over Three Decades

Normal Township is a small unit of government that has been focused on meeting the needs of people age 55+ for over three decades. In 2016, the township opened the Activity and Recreation Center (ARC), a 40,000 square foot facility dedicated to senior services. ARC is one of the largest senior services centers in the state of Illinois, offering daily exercise programs and over 50 free activities per month, including art classes, lectures, music enrichment, cards, and games, in addition to Peace Meal. ARC is dedicated to providing programs that promote healthy aging. At its original opening, the ARC building was used as an ice rink primarily for hockey players. On March 14, 1988, Illinois State University's Student Recreation Building opened. Renovations now made cardio and weight training equipment available to students along with various courts, raquetball and fitness classes. The Student Recreation Building closed in December of 2010. Former Director Jennifer Engelman & Normal Township had been searching for a larger space to house its programs and services for seniors since 2009. They made the agreement to purchase the new building in April 2013. Extensive remodeling has since taken place that allows ARC to offer a wide variety of programs and services to the local 55+ community. ARC currently serves over 2,700 members.

*The Normal Township Activity & Recreation Center is not a licensed or certified adult day services provider.*

Benefits of ARC Membership

What can an ARC membership provide?

Recreational activities for seniors (55+) in Normal and the surrounding area
Assistance services for seniors (55+) in Normal and the surrounding area
Nutritional and health support as Peace Meal congregate site
Opportunities for improving fitness

Access to indoor walking track (13 laps = 1 mile)
Fitness Center open to all ARC members provides access to various cardio and weight training equipment
Pickleball Courts
Exercise Studio for various fitness classes with an instructor
Personal training opportunities with trainer Scott Richardson

Opportunities for socialization and continued learning
ARC shuttle service is available to all seniors that live within a 7-mile radius of ARC. The shuttle service offers transportation between ARC and a member’s residence only. The shuttle operates Monday through Thursday, according to the ARC calendar year. Pick-ups will be timed to allow all those who register for a ride on a given day to arrive at ARC by 10 AM. Drop-offs will take place at either 2 PM or 4 PM. Drop-off time must be specified when making your ride reservation. The cost for riding the shuttle is FREE. In order to run an efficient shuttle service, all riders need to reserve a seat by noon the day in advance and by noon Thursday for Monday rides. To make a reservation, call ARC at 309-888-9099, and press 2 to speak to a Member Services Representative.

Cost of ARC Membership

Affordable annual membership of $30/year

SilverSneakers®, Silver&Fit®, & Renew Active Members - ARC membership fee waived following verification
You can sign up for a new membership or renew using the online GymMaster Member Portal on this website, or you can register or renew in person at ARC.
Those interested in becoming members of ARC who meet the following requirements are eligible for a hardship reduction of the membership fee. See a manager for further details on the process: Annual income < $19,391 for a single person Annual income < $26,228 for a couple
Some ARC programs and classes have additional fees to the cost of an annual membership. Details on those programs and classes can be found in ARC's monthly newsletter.
Visitor Passes Available - The purchase of a $5.00 visitor pass allows a non-member (55+) to visit ARC and participate in programs at the center that do not have a participation fee for the period of one day during hours of operation. Payments made toward visitor passes will not be applied to the future purchase of an annual membership. Visitor passes can be purchased in-person at the ARC front desk on the day they are intended to be used. Visitors must bring a photo ID and complete visitor paperwork.