Designing rec centers based on community input and interests
By John Gregg
Today’s recreation centers are more than just spaces in which to work out. When designed with a focus on the facility’s users, they can foster and grow connections within the community. Through an inclusive design process, two new recreation and wellness centers in Baltimore, Md., are well-positioned to become cornerstones of their communities.
In a city with a population of just over 600,000, Baltimore City Recreation & Parks (BCRP) manages more than 262 parks, 44 recreation centers, 23 pools, 121 playgrounds, and more across 4,700 acres of parkland. As referenced in its strategic plan, it is guided by a vision “to build a stronger Baltimore one community at a time through Conservation, Health & Wellness, and Social Equity.” Supporting this vision was a critical part of the design process for the new Cahill Fitness & Wellness Center and Middle Branch Fitness & Wellness Center. Instead of creating identical facilities, the design team employed a story-based approach that embraced the individual programs and places that allow each community to make its center its own.