Spring Hill Recreation Center is undergoing construction to double its size. Photo by Reena Singh.
Spring Hill’s Recreation Center will be undergoing a $10 million facelift.
It closes on Sept. 18 - but when it opens in December, it will have a two-story gymnasium and fitness area.
“Essentially, the fitness center is doubling in size,” said the recreation center’s fitness director John Bartok. “This will give us the largest fitness center of all the rec centers.”
The fitness center will be 15,000 square feet - including 3,000 square feet of classroom space.
The recent changes have taken two years to plan, he said. This renovation is Phase III of the recreation center’s revamp. Due to safety concerns, the building will be closed until December for internal renovations.
“This December is when people can get back in,” said Fairfax County Parks Authority Public Information Officer Matthew Kaiser. “This will be the third recreation center to have their fitness center revamped recently.”
South Run in Springfield and OakMarr in Oakton were the last centers to have been renovated. These projects were assessed based on a needs assessment in 2004. The next center to be renovated will be Mount Vernon.
“It all tracks back to trends in exercise,” he said.
The recreation centers that have been identified as in need of a renovation, he said, could have financial stability with an influx of new clientele.
Because the Spring Hill center will be closed for a short period, the Park Authority is giving them two options to make sure patrons get their money’s worth.
“You can put your pass on hold so you won’t lose that time, or you can just use it at the OakMarr or Providence rec center,” said Bartok.
In addition to the additional space, the project will include replacing the gang-style showers with more private shower stalls and adding more changing cabanas.
“We only have one family changing area right now,” he said. “It could be difficult if a mom is bringing a young son into the same changing room.”
The front desk area will be revamped. The additional classroom space will allow multiple fitness classes to be held at the same time. Bartok said the center will add Barre ballet fitness classes to the schedule.
The new gymnasium will include an elevated walking area around the perimeter. He said the addition will benefit the community’s senior population.
“It will be a great way to bridge generations,” he said.