Patrick Henry School And Recreation Center Open In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The new Patrick Henry School and adjoining Patrick Henry Neighborhood Recreation Center opened Tuesday, Alexandria City Public Schools and the city announced. The opening caps 18 months of construction to expand and modernize the school and recreation center on Taney Avenue.

"This is a momentous day for our children and community," said ACPS Superintendent Gregory Hutchings Jr. in a statement. "We are delighted that the City and Schools have been able to collaborate so well on this project to ensure the end result works as a 21st-century facility for our young learners as well as a recreation center at the heart of the community."

The school district and city worked together to ensure the projects would coincide. ACPS sought to address increasing enrollment with the expanded Patrick Henry School. The 136,000 square-foot school building expands capacity to 900 students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Before the construction, the school could enroll a maximum 650 students from pre-K through fifth grade. Pre-K has been moved to the new Early Childhood Center co-location at John Adams Elementary School.

The rebuilt 19,000-square foot recreation center offers community and school uses. The building features indoor running and walking lanes, a flex court with full size basketball, volleyball and pickleball courts, multipurpose rooms for senior programming, community classes and meetings, and after-school programs, and rooms for arts and crafts, exercise and fitness, and play.

The school and recreation center share an additional 12,000 square feet, which include a black box theater, full-size gymnasium and additional multipurpose room.

The old school building dated back to the 1950s, while the city added the recreation center addition in 1973. The new school was built aside the old Patrick Henry School, allowing students to stay there during construction.

The final project cost was $62.8 million, with $52.3 million being for the school and $10.5 million for the recreation center and forthcoming outdoor amenities.

The project's next phase is expected to start in the near future. This will entail a full size synthetic turf field, baseball diamond overlay, outdoor basketball court, three playgrounds and adult fitness equipment.

Residents can see both facilities during an open house Saturday, Feb. 2 from 9 a.m.-noon.

Image via ACPS