Burlington Recreation & Parks has been awarded a $15,000 grant by the Alamance County Tourism Development Authority for the purchase of equipment and mechanisms for volleyball, pickle ball and badminton netting in the gym of the Fairchild Community Center.
The Fairchild Community Center gym has recently received significant improvements, funded by the City of Burlington and federal Community Development Block Grants. Renovations included a new gym floor, bleachers and paint. The gym has been designed to serve multiple purposes and with the grant funding awarded, the gym will soon be home to two regulation-size indoor volleyball courts, four indoor pickle ball and badminton courts as well as four basketball courts. The Community Center is primed to serve the local Burlington community and to attract visitors to a variety of sporting competitions.
The Alamance County Tourism Development Authority, doing business as the Burlington/Alamance County Convention & Visitors Bureau (BACCVB), is the official tourism marketing agency for Alamance County. The Mission of the BACCVB is to promote and sell the Alamance County Area to prospective visitors. The BACCVB is located in the Historic Train Depot at 200 S. Main Street in Downtown Burlington.
Of the grant award, BACCVB Board Member Wes Collins said, “The Tourism Development Authority is fortunate to have the ability to assist the Recreation and Parks Department in expanding its commitment to bringing additional sports opportunities to the residents of and visitors to Alamance County. These upgraded facilities will make it possible to attract and secure State and Regional tournaments that will in turn bring additional tourism dollars into our county.”
Robert Cox, Executive Director of the BACCVB states “The BACCVB is excited to partner with Burlington Recreation and Parks on the soon-to-be installed net system at Fairchild Community Center. This will allow the BACCVB and Burlington Recreation and Parks to solicit events that we currently are unable to host such as volleyball, pickle ball and badminton tournaments.”
The netting and equipment is scheduled for installation in the spring of 2016 and will be put into use immediately thereafter to serve the growing demand for pickle ball, badminton and volleyball in the community and around the state.
For more information about athletics in Burlington, please contact the Recreation & Parks Department at (336) 222-5030.