Old Patrick Henry Recreation Center To Be Demolished

ALEXANDRIA, VA—While the old Patrick Henry Elementary School building is set to become a swing space for Douglas MacArthur Elementary School students during renovations, the old recreation center will be demolished in May. Alexandria City Public Schools announced that preparations and the permit process has begun for the demolition.

The school district says the recreation center is being demolished "to provide proper separation from the school building." The new Patrick Henry Elementary School and recreation center opened earlier this year.

The ACPS School Board voted in April to use the old school as a swing space. Douglas MacArthur students would move into the swing space for the 2020-2021 school year and move into their new school in early 2023.

ACPS says it is planning for necessary upgrades so the school will be in good conditions when Douglas MacArthur students move in. The school district is also working out parking, traffic flow and safety issues, as well as playground upgrades and completion.

The next step will be the Planning Commission and City Council reviewing the Patrick Henry swing space design. ACPS expects this process to happen in the fall. Consideration of the Douglas MacArthur Elementary design could happen in the spring.

With the April school board vote, ACPS promised to demolish the old Patrick Henry School once Douglas MacArthur students return to their own building.

See a project timeline and more information about the swing space here.