Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake recently hosted back-to-back ribbon cutting ceremonies for two of Baltimore City's newly improved recreation centers—CC Jackson Recreation Center and Rita R. Church Recreation Center.
Located in an urban park setting, the 19,000-SF renovation and expansion of CC Jackson Recreation Center features large expanses of glass curtainwall in order to tie the building in with its surroundings, allowing building users to overlook the newly developed recreational fields and playgrounds while inviting park users to view the activities inside. The center includes an enlarged gymnasium, dance studio, multi-purpose room, computer lab, program and game rooms, meeting rooms, offices, locker rooms, and a kitchen.
The 11,500-SF gymnasium addition to the Rita R. Church Recreation Center was constructed as phase two of the project, following phase one, the award-winning exterior restoration and interior rehabilitation of the former Clifton Park Pool House. The design incorporates sustainable elements, including an extensive green roof, geothermal heating and cooling system, and sustainable materials.
The revitalization of these recreation centers is part of the Mayor's "Destination Active Baltimore" initiative—a plan for a new community center network in Baltimore City. The initiative includes the completion of five community centers in total, as well as a new park pool and pavilion.
