Boston University Fitness & Recreation Center

Facility Rentals

Birthday Parties

The Fitness and Recreation Center is the perfect place for birthday parties. With a variety of options, there's fun for all ages!

Availability Update:

As of 10.23.2008

No new requests for 2008 parties will be accepted.

We will begin accepting requests for 2009 parties on Monday, November 17. The first available weekend in 2009 is January 17 & 18.

Birthday Party Rates:

Affiliate = $195 and Non-BU = $250

All parties include 1 hour of activity followed by 45 minutes in the party room.
All party rates include 15 participants.
There is a $75 charge to increase the number of participants beyond 15. Please see limits below.
Combination parties can be arranged on a space available basis. There is a $125 charge to add a second activity. Options include: wall/pool, gym/wall, and gym/pool.

Type of Party	Min. Age	Max. # of Participants	Supervisors Included	General Availability
Gym	6	25	2	Sat/Sun - 12pm-4pm
Pool	5	25	2	Sat/Sun - 2pm-5pm
Wall	8	20	3	Sat/Sun - 12:30pm-2:30pm
Dance/Gymnastics	4-6 yrs	15	2	Sat/Sun 12pm

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I make a reservation?

Please complete the Online Facility Request Form to begin the process. Completion of this form does not guarentee a reservation. If your request can be accommodated, you will be required to complete a rental agreement and make a non-refundable $50 deposit to hold date.
Requests should be made 6 weeks in advance. Requests made less than 2 weeks in advance will not be accommodated.

What does the rental fee include?

Depending on the type of party you select, the rate includes:

exclusive use of 1 basketball court and sports equipment
exclusive use of the wall, climbing supervisors, and climbing equipment
exclusive use of the recreation pool, lifeguards, and pool toys
In the party room, tables, chairs, trash barrels and red table cloths are provided.

What is the cancellation policy?
There is a $50 non-refundable deposit. The balance is due three weeks in advance of the party. Cancellation less than two weeks prior to the beginning of the rental period results in forfeiture of 100% of the total rental fee.

Do you provide invitations?

We do have generic birthday party invitations that can be given to the host upon request. The invitations have the required waiver form on the back as well as parking information.

What do I do when I arrive?

Upon arrival, the host must check-in at the front desk and provide the FitRec staff with a guest list. It is a good idea to invite guests to arrive 15 minutes before the actual rental time. That way, everyone is ready to play when the rental begins. The group will gather in the lobby and be escorted to the reserved area at the designated time.

Is there a waiver form that participants need to sign?

All participants must submit a waiver of liability to the front desk upon arrival. For anyone under 18 years of age, this form must be signed by a parent or guardian. Anyone without a properly signed form will not be allowed to enter the Fitness and Recreation Center.

Can we decorate the party room?

Most people choose to limit their decorations to colorful tablecloths and festive plates/cups. Balloons are another decoration that’s festive, but easy to clean up. Groups are not allowed into the room early for set-up and must be out on time as parties are booked back-to-back.

Piñatas are NOT allowed.
Decorations can NOT be adhered to the walls, lights, or ceiling.
Squirt guns and "poppers" are prohibited in the party room.

Can we order pizza?

Many groups choose to order pizza and have it delivered to the Fitness and Recreation Center. The delivery person must be met by the host in the main lobby.

Are swim caps required in the recreation pool?

Swim caps are NOT required during rentals.

Are towels provided for pool parties?

You must bring your own towel to a pool party.

What types of pool toys are available for my group to use?

The lifeguards will provide small inner tubes for use in the lazy river, noodles, a basketball hoop, balls, and volleyball net.

Do parents need to be in the water with the children during pool parties?

For children ages 5-6 there MUST be 1 adult in the water for every 5 children.
For children ages 7-10 there must be 1 adult in the water for every 10 children.
Regardless of age, if the child is a non-swimmer an adult must be in the water with the child.

Is there a swim test?

At the beginning of the party, a swim test will be administered. Participants will be required the swim one length of the pool (20yds). Anyone who wishes to skip the test will be directed to the shallow area of the pool (3’6” in depth). For their own safety, anyone unable to complete this test will NOT be allowed into the deep end or into the lazy river unless they are directly accompanied by an adult.

How do I get to the Fitness and Recreation Center?

Directions can be found at: http://www.bu.edu/fitrec/facilities/fitrec/directions.html

Where should I park?

**Parking can not be validated or guarenteed by the Fitness and Recreation Center.**

Helpful Hints: There is a parking garage at Agganis Arena which charges $1/hr (Max. $8/day) on Non-Event days. Metered parking is also available along Commonwealth Avenue ($.25 for 15 minutes).

For more information about Agganis Events and possible parking conflicts, visit: http://www.agganisarena.com/events/calendar/calendar.asp

If an event is scheduled at Agganis during your birthday party, alternate parking is available at the 808 lot. It can be seen on this map as the "P" next to building 15. http://www.bu.edu/visit/maps/campus/index.html Guests must identify themselves to the attendant as attending a FitRec event. They will then receive discounted parking for $5.