$15 Million Recreation Center - WHO Will Be Using It?
March 4th, 2008 Categories: Del Ray, Parker-Gray, Real Estate News
The Parks and Recreation Department for the City of Alexandria has broken ground on a new $15 million dollar recreation center in a public housing area with an unfortunate history of violence and drugs.
Standing on the same site as the previous rec center, the new Charles Houston Center will feature green technology, an outdoor swimming pool, new gymnasium, dance room, fitness room, boxing room, children’s game room, computer lab, senior center, preschool program and community meeting rooms. An open space/pedestrian area at the main entrance will feature a public art project to honor Charles Houston’s contribution to the Civil Rights struggle in Alexandria.
Situated on a major thorough fare and easily accessible, the Houston Center could, in theory, serve as a low cost recreation center for a wide swath of neighborhoods including Parker-Gray, Braddock Road Metro, Del Ray and even parts of north Old Town and Rosemont but concerns about safety make it clear that won’t happen.
Also not clear is just how the city will regulate the use of the new center, what programs will be offered and what steps will be taken to insure that it is a drug-free/violence-free environment.
All city recreation centers are equally public; who uses it is primarily a factor of the facilities and the location. Parker-Gray certainly needs a new facility, and I suggest we not assume that it’s inherently dangerous. People who cannot afford as much private recreation as others benefit more from public facilities - and - this neighborhood is going to change dramatically over the decade, given city plans for development. How about giving the facility a chance, and thinking of it as an asset? Many people are surprised to learn that the Cameron Street swimming pool is fine-they would not think of going there. Alexandria is a small city and we all need improvements like this. Public does not mean dangerous.
Nancy
Thank you for some very valid points. Looking back on it, when we moved to Del Ray some 20 years ago it was transitional at best and it too has changed dramatically. You are a great champion for the city and we’ll definitely give the center a second look. As a matter of fact, we’ll do another article when it opens.
Michael