The Northern Regional Recreation Center opens in Cornelius

A Distinct Design New recreation center has amenities for all ages

by Allie Spencer | photography by Jon Beyerle

If you’ve driven down N.C. 151/Old Statesville Road near the border of Cornelius and Huntersville recently you’ve probably noticed the 85,000-square-foot building flanked by a silo and indoor/outdoor waterslide. After years of anticipation, the Northern Regional Recreation Center opened to the public Fri., June 24. The $44-million facility will serve the North Mecklenburg area as a fitness center, community center, and senior center offering activities and amenities for all ages.

“If I walk in here with my toddler and my parents, there will be something for all of us to do,” says Gabe Hackney, the Senior Facility Manager, “we have programming for any age.”

Visitors will immediately notice the leisure pool area with the aforementioned multi-story waterslide. This family-friendly pool has a zero-depth entry area with an additional toddler-sized water slide. There’s also a water basketball hoop, volleyball net, and a lazy river. Down the hall, the 25-yard lap pool with eight dedicated lanes will appeal to serious swimmers. Also on the first floor is a fitness area and two full-size basketball courts in the gym. The gym will be a host site for clinics and leagues from age 3 to seniors, with a focus on indoor sports like basketball, volleyball, badminton, and pickleball, among others.

Upstairs the main fitness area is outfitted with top-of-the line equipment, machines, and free weights. There are two group exercise studios offering an array of classes like barre, kickboxing, cycling and a running/walking track (stroller friendly) that overlooks the gym below.

An important part of the recreation center is its focus on seniors ages 55 and older. The first floor boasts a dedicated community space for seniors with floor-to-ceiling windows where they can enjoy meals, wellness coaching, tax preparation, socializing, and SilverSneakers fitness. The center’s offerings and design are also noticeably family friendly, outfitted with several family changing areas, a room for birthday parties, a free child watch area for ages 2-5, after school programming, therapeutic recreational and inclusive programming, and summer camps.

Future plans include a greenhouse and raised garden beds outside with programming to support those areas run by a farmer and environmental educator. There is currently a walking trail that connects to Caldwell Station and MCPRD has plans to connect to the greenway extension over the next year.

Monthly memberships range from $22 to $65 for Mecklenburg County residents and $30 to $85 for non-residents, but there are also daily plans available. Programs like youth leagues, classes, clinics, senior programs and swim lessons do not require a membership and are open to anyone who wants to sign up.

Back to that silo on the side of the building, Hackney says it’s, “a throw to the agrarian past of this part of the county.” The design firms of BRS and LS3P wanted to bring the three distinct communities of Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville together with a contemporary ‘Main Street’ design in a central place that feels like home.

“What we do here will evolve and change over time and we want the space that the community has paid and built here to feel like home to them and that they have a facility that listens and is a good steward of the resources given to us,” says Hackney.

The Northern Regional Recreation Center

18121 Old Statesville Road, Cornelius. 980.314.NRRC | www.mecknc.gov/ParksnadRec/NorthMeckRec

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