---Published August 30, 2005

The Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department invites all interested citizens to discuss ideas and visions for the new Revolution Regional Recreation Center at a Community Workshop on Monday, September 26 at 6pm.  The workshop will be held by parks department's District 1 Advisory Council at the Arbor Glen Outreach Center, 1520 Clanton Road.

The Revolution Regional Recreation Center is budgeted for $10-million and will serve the entire Charlotte metropolitan area.  It will be developed as a sports and learning academy which might include facilities such as a junior golf training center, a boxing and wrestling academy, indoor track, computer training center, indoor climbing wall, ice rink, and a new golf clubhouse.  Some facilities and programs may be operated in partnership with the Police Athletic League and/or Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

The Revolution Regional Center will be built on or near the site of the current Revolution pool and recreation center at 1201 Remount Road. It will have a connection to the greenway trail system.  The old center and aging pool will be demolished soon after closing.

Anyone in Charlotte-Mecklenburg will have the opportunity to discuss this new regional center idea at a series of community workshops as plans are developed.  The workshop September 26 will be the first of three.

Revolution will be the first of four regional centers as identified by the planning staff of the Department of Park & Recreation.  It is the only regional center funded at this time.  The others are strategically located in other parts of Mecklenburg County.  These will continue to be ranked on the department's long range capital facilities plan in hopes of future funding.

The Mecklenburg Park and Recreation Commission and staff hope the new, non-traditional Revolution Regional Recreation Center will include a unique mix of facilities to draw regional and national attention.