Use 1 or 2 photos, whatever works. Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Myla Sabatino (front) and Nora Andrews start the tot gymnastic class with rabbit bounces. Sabatino and Andrews will be among the last Turner gymnasts to practice at Turner Hall before the program moves to the new Recreation Center.

Use 1 or 2 photos, whatever works.

NEW ULM — Thursday marked a milestone in gymnastics in New Ulm, as Turner Hall held its last day of recreational gymnastics at Turner Hall.

This will not be the end of Turner Hall’s involvement in gymnastics, but it was the last time the program will be held officially at Turner Hall. Late this summer, Turner Gymnastics will move its operation to the New Ulm Recreational Center.

Turner Hall has been the home for local gymnastics for a century and a half, and the transition to moving the program to the new facility has prompted a lot of questions from locals.

Turner Hall Executive Director Andrea Boettger said in a press release she wanted to prevent misinformation that Turner Gymnastics was going away.

“We’re blessed to be in a strong position with a growing program and are excited about all our new facility will be able to offer students and their families,” she said.

In September of 2019, Turner Hall Gymnastics combined forces with NUAGA (New Ulm Area Gymnastics Academy) to form the Turner Gymnastics Academy. Since this time, classes have been taking place at both facilities (State Street and Front Street) under the name of TGA (Turner Gymnastics Academy).

Gymnastics may not physically be taking place at Turner Hall, but gymnasts enrolled in TGA recreational, progressive and competitive classes are still enrolled in Turner Hall Gymnastics and are a part of the New Ulm Turnverein.

“Our programs have been continuing to grow and the demand for affordable youth activities is clear,” Boettger said. “We have been exceeding enrollment levels not seen in many years. We have begun to outgrow our space and have not been able to offer enough classes to meet the demand. This past fall and spring, some families were placed on a waiting list due to the high number of students enrolled.”

The new space will allow Turner Hall to provide the community with more open gym hours, more class options and more opportunities for users of the gymnastics facility. TGA recently began expanding classes to include parent/tot classes for children ages 18 to 3 years old and added parkour classes for students. Parkour is a form of freestyle gymnastics that leverages obstacle-type equipment for students to flip and jump through and around.

Boettger said Turner Hall remains firm in its commitment to promote “sound mind, sound body” and is currently exploring options for new programming to take place at Turner Hall. Some options being considered are adult flexibility classes, yoga in the park and a Turner Talks series of lectures and presentations available to the public. Turner is exploring ways to better use our grounds and available space to serve the community and surrounding areas.