Located in small, unincorporated Lemay, this recreation center is a unifying destination for the community and a symbol of a recent resurgence. Strategically located to draw synergies to other communal spaces, the center sits adjacent to existing outdoor recreation fields on the western edge of the historic Jefferson Barracks Park.
The building features a large, sheltering roof under which dynamic recreational and community programming takes place. The building’s delta-shaped plan, with its composition of glass and stone, works in harmony to connect visitors to the park’s pastoral setting. The center also offers abundant and expansive views of the surrounding wooded landscape and historic structures.
Key features of the recreation center include a large multipurpose event room with adjacent kitchen, a multi-use activity court, weight and cardio areas, a group exercise room, an elevated jogging track, an outdoor terrace, offices, a public lounge and drop-in babysitting. The aquatic complex includes a wide variety of features, such as a climbing wall, a drop slide and a play fort — all designed to create an exciting, unique, multigenerational environment for the community.
In all, the Lemay Community Recreation Center has become a rejuvenation catalyst and identity for a once-forgotten community, and is attracting a greater number of people into the incredible 450-acre historic park every day. The outdoor aquatic center has attracted more than 50,000 visitors through its first two seasons.
Shell Place