Students cruising down Abbott Road are encouraged to drop in for citywide birthday bash.

The East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road, will celebrate its first birthday on Saturday from 1-4 p.m. in the North Balcony lounge.

"I think it has been well-received by the community," Parks and Recreation Director Tim McCaffrey said.

Although the center has gained popularity in the community, city officials expect the center to bring in $210,000 more than projected, McCaffrey said.

"We are very pleased with our growth over the first year," he said.

"Opening a new building has a lot of practical operational challenges."

According to McCaffrey, the city overwhelmingly voted a $7- million bond issue to turn the building from a middle school to the center in 1998.

"We will do some things to encourage use," he said. "We mostly just depend on word of mouth."

Visitors to the center's birthday celebration can enjoy cake, a tour of the facility and a free pass for a future visit, Coordinator Elaine Hardy said.

"It's truly become the heart of the community," she said of the celebration which saw 17,127 new users.

Those hoping to use the facility can get a day pass for $3.50, a 10-day trial for $30 and a year pass for $196.

"It's an exceptional deal for under $200 a year," Hardy said.

The center also houses senior and teen programs, has sports leagues and administers the middle school sports program.

East Lansing Councilmember Vic Loomis said he is on a committee to access the parks and recreation programs and will issue a report soon. The program fell about $344,000 short of its projected budget this year.

People who use the facility will have access to a drop-in fitness center, temperature-controlled swim pool, two gymnasiums as well as yoga and belly dancing.

The center also offers a banquet hall and meeting rooms which host school board meetings.

There are also spaces for birthday parties and other private and special events.

The community center operates the elegant 500-seat Albert A. White Performing Arts Theater where plays, films, concerts and speakers visit. It generally seems the community center can accommodate just about any activity at any time, officials say.

One way to encourage increased use of the facilities is by giving out free passes to off-campus students, said Kevin Glandon, who serves on the University Student Commission.

Most of the passes given out were received by the greek system.

"We're trying to involvement in the community," he said. "It's a pretty great facility."