Roanoke Parks and Recreation invites residents to learn more about the future Eureka Recreation Center at a public meeting on Tuesday, April 11 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Residents can attend in-person at the Melrose Branch Library Community Room (2502 Melrose Ave NW, Suite D, Roanoke, VA 24017) or watch via livestream of the meeting, available on the PLAY Roanoke Facebook page, courtesy of RVTV-3.
Located in Northwest Roanoke, Eureka Recreation Center is heavily used throughout the year for after school programs as well as athletics and event rentals. The building was originally constructed in 1965 and has fallen into disrepair, with inadequate recreational spaces and obsolete mechanical/structural equipment. For these reasons, redevelopment of the Eureka Recreation Center was identified as a top need in the Parks and Recreation 10-year Master Plan, developed in 2019.
In 2021, the City of Roanoke allocated $8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to the redevelopment of Eureka Recreation Center. In July of 2022, an additional $5 million was added to this project (also from ARPA funding). With a total of $13 million, this will be the largest investment in a single project in Roanoke Parks and Recreation history.
Community engagement has been integral to the project. Roanoke Parks and Recreation has previously held two public meetings, conducted an online survey, and provided engagement opportunities at community events. “We’ve heard from many neighborhood residents and been able to gather feedback from youth throughout the process,” says Katie Slusher, Planning and Development Coordinator for Roanoke Parks and Recreation. The upcoming meeting will include a presentation of schematic designs and additional project details provided by VMDO Architects, with an opportunity for questions to follow.
More information and a project timeline can be found at playroanoke.com/eureka-redevelopment. For all media inquiries, contact the City of Roanoke’s Office of Communications and Community Engagement at communityengagement@roanokeva.gov.