The Fairfax County Park Authority did the work, and with a complete overhaul, the Mount Vernon Rec Center is ready to debut its new look.
After closing at the end of 2022 for facility renovations, the rec center at 2017 Belle View Blvd is scheduled to reopen at 7 a.m. on Monday, June 9.
“The much anticipated reopening of this recreational hub brings many new amenities to the neighborhood, from its two-story Fitness Center to the addition of a second ice rink to the indoor arena and a climbing wall,” the Fairfax County Park Authority said in a release.
The park authority says the facility will see a staggered opening with the fitness center and the ice rinks opening on Monday. Summer camps, park authority classes and drop-in group fitness classes will begin the following week on Monday, June 16.
Additional amenities, including drop-in child care and a climbing wall, will become available on June 23, though the natatorium, which has a swimming pool, spa and sauna, won’t open until later this summer.
The new fitness center features a range of cardio and strength equipment like recumbent bikes and free weights available with a membership to the facility. Annual membership is $700 for an individual or $1,200 for two people.
One of the flashiest updates is a new ice arena, according to the park authority:
The arena features two National Hockey League-sized ice rinks, a skate rental area, skate sharpening services, team locker rooms and party rooms with skate-friendly flooring for events. Enjoy public skate sessions, sign up for skating classes and train and compete again here at Mount Vernon.
Originally opened in 1974, the Mount Vernon Rec Center had experienced myriad issues in recent years, from flooded locker rooms during rain to the failure of its ice rink chiller. The facility had been slated for $40.7 million in upgrades, but the mounting list of maintenance challenges necessitated more extensive renovations, raising the cost to $74 million and requiring an estimated two-year closure.
The project ultimately expanded the recreation center by approximately 75,000 square feet, adding a two-story fitness center, an indoor track, a kids’ play area, a remodeled pool with a beach entry, and a second National Hockey League-sized ice rink.
The FCPA says the new facility will operate under modified hours until July 6:
- Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Regular operating hours will be 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
