Parks and Rec seeks funds for community rec center, indoor aquatic center and skate park restoration

Louisa County Parks and Recreation staff asked the Planning Commission to consider multi-year CIP funding for three major recreation priorities: a community recreation center, an indoor aquatic facility and return of the county skate park.

James Smith (Parks & Rec) said the county’s Betty Queen Center — the system’s primary indoor recreation facility built around 2002 — has reached capacity for current demand as the county population has grown. Smith requested $2 million in the next fiscal year as a contribution toward a larger community recreation center; he said the total project target remains roughly $11.5 million and that the county has previously discussed phased funding over multiple years.

Smith also requested phased funding for an indoor aquatic facility, with $1.2 million already set aside and a $2 million request next year followed by additional contributions in subsequent years, including a proposed $3 million in later funding to complete the project. Smith said the county’s current outdoor pool operates roughly three to four months a year, and that last summer the Parks and Recreation swim-program waitlist reached 98 children while the programs were able to serve 146 Louisa children.

The final item was restoring the skate park on its former concrete pad adjacent to the aquatic facility. Smith proposed expanding the pad and adding fenced, modern skate elements and synthetic ramps to return the county’s skate facility.

Smith said project locations have not been finalized for the new community center or indoor aquatic facility; the skate-park replacement would be on the original pad next to the aquatic facility. Parks staff asked commissioners to note the CIP funding requests and said staff will provide more detailed site-selection and cost information as projects advance.