As Orion Twp Celebrates Orion Rec Center, A Look at Rejected Name Options

As Orion Twp celebrates Orion Rec Middle, a have a look at rejected title choices

(Crystal A. Proxmire, November 23, 2025)

Orion Township, MI – It might have been referred to as Buffporium. Or Gymy McCamface. And even Home of Swole by Chris Barnett. However of greater than 400 names submitted in a contest to call the neighborhood’s new recreation middle, a less complicated title gained, with the general public in the end voting for the Orion Recreation Middle.

Residents packed the brand new ORC on Nov. 12 for the Parks and Progress occasion, celebrating 15 years of preserving inexperienced house and creating leisure alternatives for residents and guests, particularly the Township’s latest buy and renovation of the previous Nice Lakes Athletic Membership.

Additionally they took to the Web, submitting names for the brand new middle and voting to refine the names within the weeks main as much as the massive reveal.

Orion Recreation Middle was a well-liked title from the start, and several other individuals submitted it to the primary contest. Some others additionally returned. The employees narrowed the competition down to 5 names: Orion Recreation Middle, The Den, The LOCAL, The Dragon Hub and the LOCH.

Greater than 1,500 votes helped slender it all the way down to the ultimate two: Orion Recreation Middle and Lake Orion Group Hub (LOCH). And in the long run, ORC obtained 66.7% of the votes.

Different names submitted included The Orion Outpost, Mitten Muscle, Orion Vitality Zone, The Summit, The LOft, Gingell Athletic Village and Orion Collectively Middle.

A few of the names have been a bit too lengthy to be sensible, such because the Lake Orion Middle for individuals who need to get match and in addition be taught to do different issues nicely, and the council-run health middle which continues to be a bit too costly to legitimately be part of the middle. One entry even referred to as it Barnett’s Cash Pit.

However even with some snide options, the overwhelming majority of those that put ahead names have been a optimistic reflection of the neighborhood’s ambitions for the house.

The constructing has positioned the Recreation Division workplaces in a extra accessible house to attach with the general public. The amenities proceed to evolve into a spot for all ages, with facilities together with three health studios, a 50+ member wing, a yoga studio, foyer restrooms, a multi-purpose room, an artwork room, indoor and outside swimming pools and a plethora of health choices. Greater than 100 staff have jobs that assist the general public discover their health happiness and neighborhood connections. And there are virtually 7,000 paying members, together with 1,583 within the 50+ neighborhood.

“We’re displaying off tonight,” Supervisor Chris Barnett stated earlier than he and different officers and recreation employees minimize the massive pink ribbon celebrating the middle. “We did a variety of neighborhood surveys. We up to date the grasp plan. And we heard time and again from our residents the necessity for house the place we might collect. We needed swimming pools. We needed a spot the place we might stroll within the winter.”

The ORC was simply a part of the celebration, which spotlighted a number of Orion Parks and the dedication to defending the Township’s 42 our bodies of water. Barnett introduced the latest buy of the previous Pine Tree elementary property that will likely be transformed right into a township park, with a part of the constructing probably retained as leisure house. He additionally touted the opening of Heritage Park, a pocket park on Baldwin with seating and historic signage.

A booklet detailing a number of park enhancements consists of the Miracle Discipline and Let Them Play playground at Friendship Park, the place individuals of all skills can play, facilities at Civic Middle Park together with Wildwood Amphitheater and an grownup health class, the disc golf course, seashore growth and KaBoom! playground at Camp Agawam, enhancements to Paint Creek Path together with the VanTassel Pedestrian Bridge, The Playful Dragon, and naturally the numerous occasions hosted by the Township for individuals of all ages.

So whereas the one that launched Clubby McPool Face could also be disillusioned, Barnett is hopeful that the 1000’s of residents who use the neighborhood’s parks and recreation choices are pleased with all of the neighborhood has to supply.

“In Orion Township we’ve a motto: Residing is a trip,” Supervisor Barnett stated. “We put our cash the place our parks are. Now we have a variety of progress, however what we have executed in Orion is unprecedented in our whole state… and we’re rattling happy with that.”

Extra details about Orion parks may be discovered at https://www.orionparks.com/

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