Breakheart, Saugus Y thriving despite economy

SAUGUS – A slip-sliding economy has proven to be a hardship for a variety of entities, but not everyone.Ed Murray, chairman of the Friends of Breakheart, said attendance inside the park, particularly during scheduled activities has skyrocketed.Close to 2,500 visitors turned out for the Haunted Mansion, over 2,000 showed up for the fall festival and 106 runners showed up a few weeks later for the turkey trot. About 150 turned out for Sunday’s holiday party, which Murray thought was down a bit.”It might have been the weather,” he added.Sunday not withstanding, Breakheart is booming and Murray attributes it all to the faltering economy.Breakheart Reservation is a 640-acre urban forest with miles of trails and dozens of events, most of which are free. Murray noted that the Haunted Mansion cost visitors $5 to get in, but the money went to charity.”And it was the lowest fee around for that type of event,” he said.While he is not happy about the economy, Murray is thrilled to see the park being enjoyed by so many North Shore residents.Another area that is also seeing a little boost from the flagging economy is the local YMCAs.Greater Lynn YMCA Executive Director Bruce Macdonald said, on a whole, the association is doing well. He said the relatively new Peabody/Lynnfield facility is doing very well, and even the smaller Saugus facility has seen a boost.Saugus Family YMCA has started two new programs aimed at families with Kid’s Night Out for students in grades 3-5 and Friday Night Dances on the third Friday of each month for grades 6-8.Another way Macdonald said the Y is going out of its way to help families’ stay involved is by remaining affordable.”We’re doing pretty well and this year we consciously decided not to increase our fees,” he said. “People are all ready hurting.”