Euclid moving ahead with 38,000-sq.-ft. recreation and wellness center; opening targeted for spring 2026

Director Stevens, the recreation director, told the Euclid Recreation Commission on May 6 that construction is under way on a 38,000-square-foot recreation and wellness center funded in part with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money and that the city is on schedule for an April 2026 opening.

The project was budgeted at $10 million of the city's $26 million in ARPA funds; Stevens said the construction team expects to finish the building exterior by the end of 2025 and complete interior work in January–March 2026 so the city can open the facility in April 2026. “It’s gonna be a 38,000 square foot facility,” Stevens said at the meeting.

The center will include a three‑court gymnasium configurable for basketball, volleyball and pickleball; a walking track around the court perimeter; a free‑weight and cardio room; a multipurpose exercise room; meeting/multipurpose space for programs or neighborhood meetings; staff offices; and secured, membership‑based entry. Stevens said the exterior will be landscaped and tied into existing walking paths through Memorial Park and to a new library, and that the site will provide roughly 210 parking spaces (approximate figure from Stevens).

Commissioners asked about major design choices and operations. Stevens said the facility will not include an indoor pool, citing cost and operating complexity: “Euclid High School does have an indoor pool that is accessible for lap swimmers,” he said, and adding that an indoor pool would have roughly doubled or tripled project costs. He said the new center was sized to meet the city’s programming needs while remaining sustainable to operate.

Staffing and programming plans discussed at the meeting call for a facility manager and part‑time staff to run daily operations; the recreation director said current recreation staff will move their offices to the new building. Stevens described plans to bring some senior programming into the new center so the Lakefront Community Center can be used more efficiently. He also said the department plans partnerships with groups such as the Police Athletic League to run youth activities and increase regular positive contact between police and young people.

Commissioners and staff discussed security features. Stevens said the center will be membership‑based, will have cameras throughout and the department hopes to coordinate a police presence for some programs. He acknowledged community concern about security but said the department’s experience operating large events and the ice arena has informed its planning. “There will be cameras throughout the facility,” he said. “The idea is to, hopefully, engage the police department to have a presence there, as well.”

Stevens said the department plans to offer tours of the facility before its official opening, and that programming will include both existing recreation offerings and new classes meant to broaden arts, mentoring and youth engagement.

Why it matters: the center is intended to give Euclid year‑round indoor programming space the city has lacked, reduce scheduling conflicts with school facilities, and centralize recreation administration and many programs in a single, accessible location.

Looking ahead: Stevens said staff will continue refining operations, security and membership rules and will share more details about tours and opening activities as the interior finish work proceeds.