After years of anticipation, the Mount Vernon RECenter is skating closer to its grand reopening.
The Fairfax County Park Authority plans to host an information session next Thursday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. in the Belle View Elementary School cafeteria (6701 Fort Hunt Road) to preview the revamped facility.
The event will provide updates on the reopening timeline, membership options, the new ice rink and pool rentals, summer camps, recreational programs and job opportunities.
The recreation center, built in 1974, officially closed in January 2023 due to aging infrastructure issues, including a failed chiller and rink dehumidification system, as well as critical end-of-life repairs needed for the roof, electrical system and bleachers, according to the county.
To save money and accelerate renovations, park authority staff recommended a full two-year closure of the facility rather than phasing the work. This decision was expected to save about $2.5 million in capital costs, though the county projected a $1.3 million loss in operating revenue during the shutdown.
In addition, voters approved funding for a $74 million, 75,000-square-foot expansion through a county bond referendum. The project includes a two-story fitness center, additional multi-purpose spaces, a climbing wall, an indoor track, drop-in childcare, an indoor kids’ play area, a pool with beach entry and a second NHL-sized ice rink, which was initially projected to cost roughly $11 million.
The newly renovated facility is expected to reopen in May 2025, according to the park authority website.
Photos via Fairfax County Park Authority/Flickr
