Long-Awaited Chandler Park Fieldhouse Opens for Year-Round Recreation

Kids enjoying the new Chandler Park Recreation Center. Image courtesy of Nick Hagen

Ever since the Cannon Recreation Center near E. Warren and Cadieux was demolished in 2006, District 4 residents have been the only City Council district without an indoor recreation center. Thanks to $14 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, we now have a place for year-round recreational activities.

It may not be a bricks-and-mortar facility, but this 130,000 square foot dome serves our needs well. It has a turf sports field, multi-use courts for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and tennis, multi-purpose rooms, locker rooms, and fitness areas.

At the grand opening last month, District 4 Councilwoman Latisha Johnson said “For far too long, families, young people and seniors have waited for a place like this, a place where we can come together, play together, grow stronger together. This dome is more than a field of play, it’s a training ground for discipline, teamwork and leadership—it’s a safe place where our youth can see their potential take shape, where dreams are born and healthier lifestyles are built.”

The facility will be open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Sunday. The process to book this fieldhouse for private events like sports clinics and tournaments starts online through RecTrac, like any other recreation center.

The fieldhouse isn’t the only improvement that’s been made to Chandler Park recently. Last year the city added new picnic shelters and a nature play area to the park. You can read more about the improvements on the city’s website.

Interior view of the Chandler Park Recreation Center. Image courtesy of Nour Rahal