Thank you for being a valued RecWell member. We appreciate you being part of the RecWell community and look forward to offering our programs and services to you this fall.  We are writing to inform you of some changes in facility usage that impact the use of our facilities at the MCV Campus Recreation Center located in the Larrick Student Center. The decision to make these changes was difficult, but ultimately we need to make these adjustments in order to be good stewards of university resources and to provide the best service possible to our RecWell members. 

There are two major changes we have made that impact the members who use the MCV Campus Recreation Center.

First, we have closed the basketball courts, along with the spaces that are accessed through the courts.  This includes the racquetball and squash courts, cycle studio, and group exercise studio and the universal bathroom. Over the summer we learned that the HVAC system that services the basketball courts is no longer operational and the replacement cost is prohibitive. The courts used for basketball, squash, and racquetball closed Monday, August 21, 2023. The group exercise and cycle studios will remain in operation through the fall semester as we work to identify an alternate location to accommodate these activities. Members who use the courts available for basketball, squash, and racquetball can utilize our courts located in the Cary Street Gym. 

Additionally, we have closed the aquatic center and aquatic locker rooms. This decision stems from the combined factors of:

-- a national lifeguard shortage making it difficult to properly staff two locations
-- rising maintenance and operating costs, and
-- lower facility usage at the MCV Campus Aquatic Center. 

The aquatic center closure is effective immediately and we welcome members who used this location to utilize the pools at our location in the Cary Street Gym.

The aquatic lockers rooms will remain open until Thursday, August 31 to allow time for our members who rent lockers in that space to be relocated to the main locker room.  A separate email will be sent to those with rental lockers with more information about the process.  

Members will still have access to:

-- the fitness center
-- locker rooms
-- and the power lifting room

We will continue to offer personal training and massage therapy services at the MCV Recreation Center as well.

We also encourage members to take advantage of their access to the Cary Street. Gym. The Cary Street Gym features approximately 20,000 square feet of cardio and weight equipment, an aquatic center that includes two pools and a spa, cycle studio, group exercise studio, Mind/Body studio, four courts that can be used for basketball and other activities, two racquetball courts, a multi-activity center, and an indoor track.   

Additionally, we have provided an FAQ section below to questions we anticipate you may have.  Members are also encouraged to email questions to recwell@vcu.edu if you are unable to make the town hall meeting.  

Thank you for taking the time to read this message and we appreciate your understanding.  We hope that the fall semester goes well for you and look forward to seeing you in our facilities and at our programs and classes this fall.

The following spaces at the MCV Campus Recreation Center will permanently close: 

• Aquatic Center and aquatic locker rooms
• Courts and spaces accessed through the courts, including: 
  • Racquetball and squash courts
  • Cycle studio
  • Group exercise studio
  • Universal Bathroom

Spaces that will remain open include:

• Fitness center, FIT Room, and the main locker rooms.  We still also continue to offer personal training and massage therapy services.  
• We are exploring the possibility of renovating an existing space to accommodate group exercise classes. 

• The Aquatic Center is currently closed and will remain so. 
• The aquatic locker rooms will close effective August 31 to provide members who rent a locker in that space time to move to the main locker room, if they wish. More information on the process is included below. 
• The basketball courts and racquetball/squash courts will close effective Monday, August 21. 
• The group exercise and cycle studios will remain in operation through the fall semester while we work to identify another space to accommodate classes.  

There were many factors that contributed to this decision, including the increasing costs associated with operating and maintaining these spaces, usage patterns, and a nation-wide lifeguard shortage.

• Those who rent a locker in the aquatic locker rooms will be sent an email outlining the impact and their options.  
• Members will be given the option to move their locker rental to the main locker room and will receive a complimentary year rental of a ⅓ size locker. 
• To initiate the complimentary year locker rental, or to request a refund, members should email recwell@vcu.edu. 
• Lockers must be vacated by Thursday, August 31. 

Yes.  RecWell memberships provide access to all RecWell facilities, programs, and services on both the MCV and the Monroe Park campuses. 

• The group exercise and cycle studios will remain in operation through the fall semester.  Access will be through the basketball courts.  
• RecWell is working on a plan to convert one of our existing spaces to accommodate group exercise classes, or to identify another space on campus that could be used.  We hope to finalize this plan in the coming weeks. 

If members wish to have a request for cancellation reviewed, they can email recwell@vcu.edu. 

• Signage in the facilities
• Website alert
• Targeted emails
• Telegram
• September member newsletter