Summer recreational rental equipment available

By Paula M. Fitzgerald
Paraglide

	Photos by Sharilyn Wells/Paraglide Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation checkout center employee, Charles “CJ” James helps a customer push a children’s bouncer into the back of a pickup truck April 16. The Fort Bragg Recreation Equipment Checkout center has various equipment for community members to rent during the summer months.

The Fort Bragg Recreation Equipment Checkout Center has almost anything you need for a fun-filled weekend adventure.

The facility is operated and managed by Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.

“We provide extracurricular activities to Soldiers at a cheaper rate than if they went off post to get the same equipment,” explained Rebecca Hunter, the center’s business manager.

All active-duty servicemembers, ID card-holding dependents, military retirees, reservists and Department of Defense civilians are eligible to use the checkout center.

According to a brochure available at recreational facilities around the installation, the checkout center has hundreds of items for rent. There is an array of camping, sporting, fishing, boating, picnicking and gardening equipment.

To see everything the center has, visit www.fortbraggmwr.com/equipment.php. There are photos and price lists available on the Web site, but Hunter said anyone interested in renting gear is more than welcome to stop by during operating hours to look at all of the equipment in stock.
“A lot of people have been at Fort Bragg for a while and still don’t know that we are here,” Hunter said. “We’ve got almost anything you need for any outdoor activity or party.”

Elizabeth McCoy was recently at the checkout center to pick up a “sticky wall” for her son’s birthday party.

“I found out about this place on the FMWR Web site. My son wanted the sticky wall for his party, so I reserved it a while ago,” McCoy said. “These prices are great. Of course, the only drawback is that you have to pick up and drop off the equipment yourself.”

Although picking up the sticky wall was a bit of a hassle, McCoy said she was glad to have friends who have pickup trucks.

Hunter said the most popular items rented at the center are the bouncers.

“We have about 35 bouncers and they are all rented out almost every weekend during the summer,” she said. “That’s why we recommend that people put in their reservations around six months in advance.”

To make reservations or to ask questions about the equipment, call 396-7060, visit www.fortbraggmwr.com/equipment.php, or stop by the checkout center.

The center is located at the corner of Knox and Gruber roads. Its summer hours are Monday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday from 8 a.m. to noon, Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Safety briefs are held Tuesday and Thursday at 9 a.m.