Mount Vernon Rec Center Renovation Groundbreaking Held

BELLE HAVEN, VA — After the Mount Vernon Rec Center closed to the public at the end of 2022, its two-year renovation and expansion project kicked off with a groundbreaking Wednesday.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will renovate and expand the facility at 2017 Belle View Blvd., Alexandria, VA, with a 75,000 square-foot addition. The facility is expected to be closed for two years, with project completion expected in 2025.

The Mount Vernon Rec Center, which dates back to 1974, is one of the park authority's oldest. The current facility includes a 25-meter heated indoor pool with poolside spa, indoor ice arena, fitness center, child play area, locker rooms with showers and sauna, and multipurpose rooms.

A feasibility study on the renovation and expansion was completed in 2016, finding a need for a fitness addition and more multipurpose rooms and benefits of another NHL ice rink and leisure pool. The renovated facility will feature two NHL-sized ice rinks, a two-level fitness area, an elevated indoor track, swimming pool, climbing wall and multi-purpose rooms. Building and mechanical systems will also be renovated during the project.

Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck said in a video message to constituents that the two-year closure was necessary due to significant construction costs without a full closure. The project costs $74 million, which includes funding from 2016 and 2020 park bonds approved by Fairfax County voters and federal American Recovery Plan Act funds.

Park authority staff have been working to move programs and activities to alternate sites and expand capacity at nearby rec center locations. The closest locations to the Mount Vernon Rec Center are the George Washington Rec Center (8426 Old Mt. Vernon Road, Alexandria, VA) and Franconia Rec Center (6601 Telegraph Road, Franconia, VA). Expanded hours at the George Washington Rec Center started Jan. 2. Rec center members can use their membership at other Fairfax County rec centers.

Stay up to date with the project on the Mount Vernon Rec Center renovation and addition project web page.