Looking forward to the future of rec centers means looking to the needs of communities

Serving as a core tenant of the community, recreation centers, more commonly referred to as rec centers, can be used by everyone for a variety of activities. These activities serve the community, from supporting local sports teams to hosting tournaments and other events.

There are countless sports facilities in the nation, however, in a recent survey by Amilia, 90% of participants said they wanted to spend more time at their local community rec center. From attracting homebuyers and businesses to keeping the community healthy and increasing well-being, there are infinite benefits to these facilities.
Some notable trends have emerged over the past few years, with growth expected to continue, that are important to consider when developing these community hubs.

Spaces for all generations:
Youth sports continue to be on the rise year after year with more spaces being dedicated to them. The Finley Center, a large sports complex that GMC designed in Hoover, Alabama is a prime example of a facility where youth sports flourish. Sports complexes are in high demand as youth sports continue to explode in popularity.

At the same time, there are increasing needs for adult programming at facilities as well. The saying, “50 is the new 30,” certainly rings true in the health and fitness world. Data from SportsVisio, a sports technology company, cited that one in five Americans intended to join a sports league over the summer. Specifically, 20% of Americans were likely to participate in a recreational sports league, with those numbers increasing significantly among millennials to 31%.

The involvement in fitness for millennials continues to grow as this age group wants to remain active into their 30s and 40s. This is also true for Gen X and Baby Boomers, as they are more attuned to their fitness than older generations past.

Playing sports is for all ages, and this can especially be seen with the recent explosion of pickleball. With the ease of access and low barrier of entry into the sport, all you need is a paddle and ball to join in. Players young and old enjoy the sport and get in a great workout too. This is a sport that has especially engaged older generations, with adult tournaments becoming more prevalent.

GMC’s team has designed numerous pickleball courts throughout the Southeast, especially in the past few years with no sign of slowing down.
With this in mind, rec centers and sports complexes should be designed to include spaces for all ages and to accommodate youth and adult leagues and programming.

Spaces for all abilities:
In addition to being designed for all ages, spaces need to be inclusive and created for those of all abilities. People should be able to participate in sports and fitness no matter their ability. Fortunately, sports fields and courts are trending in the right direction and being designed to be more accessible so that all can feel welcomed to join in.

GMC has worked on several dedicated spaces at recreational facilities for those with differing mental or physical abilities.

For example, the newest upgrades at the Emory Folmar Soccer Complex in Montgomery include a wheelchair-friendly, multipurpose acrylic court to support adaptive sports programs like TOPSoccer. The TOPSoccer program is for children and adults with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities. TOPSoccer provides people with diverse abilities an opportunity to play soccer in a structured environment that is safe, fun, supportive, and inclusive. This addition to the soccer complex creates greater access and opportunities for those all over the River Region.

GMC also just completed an all-inclusive field at the Florence Sportsplex. The field looks like a standard baseball field but is wheelchair-friendly with a custom-designed, rubberized field instead of dirt. Fields like this remove barriers of entry, and children and adults of all physical and mental abilities can play with greater mobility and safety.

These facilities are of utmost value to individuals with disabilities and their families. They can find community and embrace physical activity and sports. The inclusivity from ages to abilities is pertinent to rec centers being built in the future. From sports fields to gym equipment, those of all abilities can have opportunities to be active through thoughtful design.

Spaces for the community:
With that same thought in mind, when communities are working with GMC to develop and design rec centers, leaders often emphasize the importance of space that can be used for a myriad of community activities, not just sports.

From sports fields to courts, space at rec centers is valuable and must be used wisely. These spaces must be adaptable for multiple sports. Volleyball courts must double as basketball courts and so on. There is nothing new about a multipurpose space, but something that has been on the rise is creating areas that serve as true community and revenue-driving spaces.
Today’s rec centers now can be venues for meetings, school dances, graduations, conferences and much more outside of typical sports-related functions. The more adaptable the space, the more it can serve the community.

Once again, the Finley Center at the Hoover Met is an example of this. On top of hosting the SEC Baseball Tournament, the center has hosted the SEC Baseball FanFest, trade shows, camps, classes, markets and school dances in the past year alone. The Finley Center even has a dedicated RV parking lot which is also becoming more popular option for those traveling in for various events.
Businesses, community members and schools can rent out sections of the center for days at a time. This is a prime revenue driver, on top of membership fees. The same can be said of RV spaces during a tournament.

Amphitheaters are also becoming more commonplace in rec center design to host community events, live music and other live performances. An outdoor venue like this not only provides entertainment opportunities, but also drives revenue through rent, ticket sales, vendors and more.

Event venues, amphitheaters and other spaces for community gatherings are on the rise as rec centers become hubs of activity where communities can come together for more than just fitness and sports.

Amenities:
Amenities are always an important part of keeping up with the future of rec centers. Gone are the days of dark and drab brick buildings with no personality. Rec centers are now being designed with premium materials and touches of luxury.

Through fashioning a more premium experience in rec centers there is an emphasis not only on physical health but mental health as well. One of the ways to do this is through the use of daylighting.
Daylighting brings natural light into a space through the use of windows and skylights. This more natural feeling makes the space more calming, as opposed to the harsh overhead lights that are traditionally prevalent in gyms.

In addition, advanced equipment can make the rec center experience more seamless. Advanced check-ins with digital keys are trending as facilities move away from traditional membership cards or key fobs. These may include digital cards or QR codes that members have on their phones, or even biometric data through systems that scan from a member’s body.

As wearable tech like smartwatches and heart rate monitors have become more common, technology and fitness continue to be more intertwined on an individual basis. A more extreme version of this on the rise is the use of AI or virtual reality fitness options like the EGYM system. The EGYM system looks like a typical workout machine but uses AI-powered training to individualize each workout to the particular user. Each user logs in to the machine using RFID technology and all data is specific to them. AI will continue to become a greater part of the fitness and recreation world in the future, helping to track workouts, recovery and even make training plans.

Other considerations, quite in contrast to those mentioned above, are amenities that use no technology – nature trails and walking paths. Incorporating trails, outside of a facility is a great way to integrate the surrounding area and natural scenery. The trails often lap around sports fields and may even lead to an extensive trail further into nature and the community. An indoor walking track is often a favorite spot for many gym goers as they can walk and run despite the extreme cold or heat of the outdoors. Walking inside or outside is a low-impact exercise that all can enjoy, especially while their kids are playing sports or as a cooldown from an intense cardio workout.

Another trend worth noting is the rising popularity of aqua-related amenities. Splash pads have been on the rise for years and continue to be a crowd favorite. These are safe areas for children to enjoy water without needing to know how to swim. These areas can standalone or coincide with pools. Pools also do well to increase activity, especially in the summer with the added plus of swim league activities.

What lies ahead in the ever-changing world of sports, health and wellness? It can be hard to predict the future and forecast trends of the next 10, 20 or even 30 years. When designing and building a rec center, you must consider the needs of your specific community. GMC helps communities navigate the process, considering industry trends, while working to determine the right fit for the people the facility will serve.
All and all, the needs of the community are reflected in today’s rec centers. The benefits are endless, from physical to mental health, even to positive economic impact. From versatility to accessibility and technology, people want places that support recreation and foster community.