Officials Break Ground On North Laurel Community Center Addition With 2 Indoor Pools

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Officials broke ground on the addition planned for the North Laurel Community Center, which includes two indoor pools.

Located at 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, the current 62,000-square-foot NLCC features a gymnasium, fitness, multi-purpose, dance and game rooms, a police community resource office, a community health office, Infants & Children (WIC) office, playground and more. This nearly 23,000-square-foot, one-story addition will include a competition lap pool, a therapy leisure pool, women’s and men’s locker rooms, six family restrooms, a reception area and office space.

"Pools promote fitness and fun, help relieve stress and anxiety, provide a natural gathering spot for socializing, introduce people to learning how to swim and water safety programs, and help us cool off on those hot days, like today. For years, our North Laurel residents have asked for a pool. Today, I’m glad to say we are finally able to fulfill their requests and bring them not one, but two pools. I’m proud of the teamwork we’ve all put forward to make this dream a reality and open the door to affordable aquatic amenities for our North Laurel residents," said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball at the groundbreaking.

With 4,600 square feet and five-feet-deep, the competition lap pool contains a zero-entry area with railings that will allow those with mobility disabilities to transition in and out of the water independently. This zero-entry area will not interfere with the lap lanes. The 3,000-square-foot therapy leisure pool will range in depth from three to six feet, be kept at a warmer temperature, will feature a chair lift to assist with pool entry and exit, and a large water slide for all to enjoy.

The Department of Recreation & Parks currently operates one pool at its Roger Carter Community Center in Ellicott City. Like its Roger Carter pool, the department plans to also offer open swim times, swim classes, therapeutic programs, camps and party space at its new NLCC pools.

“I am so excited because this project has been funded and defunded so many times over the years, so frankly, when it came up again, I was not yet convinced that I would see it in my lifetime. But when I got the invitation for today, I became enthusiastic that they were finally going to go through with it,” added Susan Garber, community advocate. “While I may be someone who doesn’t swim, I do understand from firsthand experience the benefits of a warm water therapy pool for residents who have limited or loss mobility, and how needed it is for rehabilitation. Thank you to everyone who has had a finger in finally making this happen.”

In addition, the project also includes site and stormwater management work, new onsite trails, a new paved access point for emergency vehicles and the relocation and rebuilding of the existing playground facilities.