Temecula Community Recreation Center is undergoing a facelift

Ava Sarnowski

Valley News Intern

A transformative three-part refurbishment is now underway at Temecula Community Recreation Center, the largest community center in Temecula that serves more than 235,000 people annually, according to Temecula city officials.

Phase 1 of the refurbishment at Ronald Reagan Sports Park, 30875 Rancho Vista Road in Temecula, will consist of a full repair, updating the building to fit current standards, as well as needed maintenance.

Phases 2 and 3 will focus on expansion and other improvements throughout the facility, said the city spokesperson in an emailed statement.

The city is working on design plans for Phase 2, and it anticipated this part of the project will begin late 2023 or early 2024, a spokesperson said. Phase 2 will reconfigure the teen center, accommodate office space for the police station and renovate key components, including safety features, flooring, roof and restroom facility access.

Storage space will be expanded, kitchen equipment will be upgraded and both existing office space and rec rooms will be renovated, according to a recent Temecula City Council agenda report.

According to the city, a Building Assessment Report, which was completed by the project architect, identified the necessary building improvements included in Phase 1.

“We knew the Community Recreation Center needed refurbishment based on the age and condition of the building,” city officials said. “The construction cost estimate for Phase 1 project is $3,400,000, along with other project costs of approximately $500,000.”

The Phase 1 project is expected to last approximately five months, the city said.

All renovations for the building will comply with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, the spokesperson said.

“Repairs to the building are not specifically improving any specific area for teens at this time, but this will be done in another phase of the renovation, possible fall of 2023,” the city spokesperson said.

Following the completion of all three phases, the center will add on more new additions. It includes the likes of classrooms, a computer classroom, an expanded teen zone, a family restroom, a fitness room, a converted patio area, a foyer for the gymnasium, a splash pad at the pool and more storage areas, they said.

According to city officials, once the project is completed CRC also will offer an array of additional classes and activities. They said they remain committed toward “enriching the lives of both residents and visitors within the community.”

Dedicated March 25, 1994, Temecula’s Community Recreation Center still serves as an intergenerational hub within the community, they said.

As it stands now, the building contains a full-court basketball gymnasium with bleachers, a multipurpose room, meeting rooms, a teen activity center, an outdoor amphitheater with a stage, and a 25-yard swimming pool, and a waterslide.

The center has a teen zone for participants from middle school through high school, basketball leagues, gym activities, and summer day camps for ages 5 through 14. They offer classes for cooking, art, and dance, and hold concerts at the amphitheater.

CRC’s pool also offers swimming lessons, public swim times, water aerobics, lap swim, swim team practice, lifeguarding classes, and a junior lifeguard program. For those seeking out volunteer opportunities, they are readily available at the CRC.

The construction of Ronald Reagan Sports Park predates Temecula’s establishment as a city and was built by volunteers, the spokesperson said. Once titled the Rancho California Sports Park, businesses and local residents would come down for their children to play and enjoy outdoor recreation, they explained.

The California governor Ronald Reagan, acknowledged the community and its activation of volunteerism in a 1983 speech, resulting in the name the park is called.

What initially began as a few ballfields, grass and a small playground, evolved into a major city park, one where a bronze statue of former Gov. Ronald Reagan welcomes all visitors.

The 128-square acre park includes the Temecula Community Recreation Center, Amphitheater, 90-foot ballfields and other multi-use sports fields.

The local youth roller hockey league plays at the park’s roller hockey rink. A skate park created during the mid-1990s, as well as a state-of-the-art pump track also can be found within the boundaries of the park.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to experience the park for themselves, or even discover a new one beyond their backyard, the spokesperson said.

“The Ronald Reagan Sports Park is truly one of Temecula’s jewels when it comes to our park system and has a rich history,” the spokesperson said. “We encourage you to get outside with your family and friends to experience it for yourself, or even discover a new park just beyond your own backyard.

“The greatest achievements of the center are all the community members it has served for the past 28 years,” the spokesperson said. “Patrons who came to the center as children now bring their children to the CRC to enjoy many of the recreational opportunities.”

Ava Sarnowski can be reached by email at [email protected].