Thank you for the memories, Leisure World

Whether they went once or go every weekend, many Truman students are familiar with Leisure World – Kirksville’s only skating rink and bowling alley. In some way or another, the multipurpose venue has left its mark on much of the Truman student body, and its absence will be felt when it permanently closes on Oct. 10. 

For sophomore Elise Wagstaff, Leisure World is an ideal date spot. Wagstaff and her boyfriend spend most of their weekends roller skating at Leisure World together, especially after hearing about the upcoming closure. Wagstaff said she likes how Leisure World is an inexpensive and fun way to spend time with her boyfriend, whom she taught how to skate in Leisure World’s skating rink. 

Upon hearing about the impending closure of Leisure World, Wagstaff said that she was devastated and is unsure of how she will spend her Fridays and Saturdays.

“It’s just sad because I felt like I was going to have so many more memories there, and I’m not anymore,” Wagstaff said. “But I have enjoyed the memories I’ve made so far.” 

Wagstaff is not the only one who will be affected by Leisure World’s closure. Truman’s Bowling Club meets at Leisure World every other Wednesday. With no other bowling alleys in town, the club will have no choice but to disband when Leisure World closes.

Senior Kurt Schommer, president of the Bowling Club, said that the Bowling Club allowed him to connect with students from other majors that he would have never met otherwise. Schommer joined the Bowling Club his freshman year and has participated in it for the last three years.  

“Even though Leisure World didn’t have the best bowling lanes, it was still a great experience … it was something to look forward to every other Wednesday,” Schommer said.   

The treasurer of the Bowling Club, senior Tanner Barnett, said that he didn’t expect to like the club as much as he did. Barnett said the best part of Leisure World was knowing that he got to see his friends every other Wednesday that he doesn’t normally see throughout the week. 

“I think [the members] will be sad because a lot of the people genuinely liked coming,” Barnett said. “If it wasn’t for bowling, [it was] to talk to the guys or girls that were there about whatever went on in their week or their day. [Kurt and I] tried to catch up with everybody, see how everybody was doing. So I think they’ll miss that aspect.” 

While Leisure World has fostered an environment for good memories, not every experience with it was positive. Jill O’Dell, a Truman alumna, had a unique experience with Leisure World – one in which her friend suffered a skating injury that resulted in a trip to the emergency room and a surgery that nearly caused the student to drop out of the University. 

For the rest of the semester, O’Dell said she and her friends took shifts ensuring that their injured friend got to her classes. The group effort bonded the friends, and O’Dell said that she remains in contact with some of those friends today.

“Two of those girls were in my wedding, and they’re still my best friends over 30 years later,” O’Dell said. “We just laugh about it – it was part of Kirksville. It was part of our Truman experience, a huge one because we didn’t really know each other really well when it happened.” 

For years, Leisure World has provided entertainment for students in a small town that many believe to be in short supply of outing options. Without the bowling alley and skating rink, students will have to find new ways to enjoy their free time in Kirksville.