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The Harvard Ed Portal discontinued its offering of memberships to recreational facilities across its Cambridge and Allston campuses this month, ending a community benefit that had granted hundreds of Allston-Brighton residents cheap access to the University’s gyms, climbing wall, and pool.

Since 2013, the Ed Portal — itself a community benefit — has offered Allston-Brighton residents access to Blodgett Pool, the Malkin Athletic Center, Hemenway Gym, Murr Fitness Room, and Quadrangle Recreational Athletic Center for about $5 a month.

Recreation memberships were discontinued in part due to the popularity of the program, according to a Harvard spokesperson. The Ed Portal administered over 700 memberships last year, despite initially committing to just 100.

That commitment was part of the 2013 Institutional Master Plan approved by the city of Boston, which allowed Harvard to proceed with key developments and renovations on its Allston campus in exchange for providing community benefits, like giving funding to local nonprofits.

But those commitments only last around a decade.

After the first IMP was approaching expiration in 2023, Harvard representatives, neighborhood residents, and city officials spent nearly 15 months negotiating a new IMP that was finalized this March. It did not include a provision for continuing recreation memberships.

For the hundreds of residents who have since taken advantage of the program, the end came as a disappointment, especially as several emphasized the lack of comparably affordable offerings in the area.

“I loved going to that gym, and unfortunately, for a lot of people, there's not too many affordable gyms or access to fitness classes in the area,” Allston resident Savannah E. Paul said.

“I've been looking at different gyms, but a lot of them are really pricey. And even the YMCA, it's like $60 a month, which is a lot for me on a teacher salary,” Paul added.

Arnold J. Joseph, another former member, only discovered the program had ended when he was denied access to a Harvard gym and called the school to inquire about his membership status.

“I called in to renew it because for some reason I wasn't able to access one of the facilities, and they told me that my membership expired,” he said. Once he proceeded to the Ed Portal, “they explained to me that they discontinued the service,” Joseph said.

A spokesperson for Harvard did not comment for this story.

The Ed Portal announced the program’s end to members in a late August email, just a week before it went into effect.

“With several new fitness facilities opening in Allston-Brighton over the past few years, the range of fitness and recreation offerings for residents has increased substantially,” members of the Ed Portal team wrote in the email, which was obtained by The Crimson.

“The Ed Portal's mission has always been to create programming and opportunities in response to community needs, and we look forward to creating complementary programs to enhance the options available in the neighborhood,” they added.

The Harvard Ed Portal said it would continue offering residents access to the McCurdy outdoor track and tickets to certain varsity sporting events.

Many said they were surprised by the University’s decision.

“I can’t even imagine it as that much of a cost to Harvard. These gyms are already open in the summer, they’re already open at all other times for students. So I think it’s a bummer,” Meredith R. Jamicky said.

The end of access to Harvard’s athletic facilities has also touched on a long-running gripe among some residents over the lack of critical services in the area, including a post office and a community center. Both are currently shuttered, with their successors years away from completion.

“I’m disheartened. The fact that it was such a great deal and opportunity to use all the facilities available — it's unfortunate that they discontinued the service,” Joseph said.

—Staff writer Angelina J. Parker can be reached at angelina.parker@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @angelinajparker.

—Staff writer Emily T. Schwartz can be reached at emily.schwartz@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @EmilySchwartz37.