Pulaski County offers first look at Sportsplex experience and membership options ahead of Fall 2026 grand opening
Pulaski County is pleased to share that construction on the Sportsplex continues on track toward its anticipated Fall 2026 grand opening. We are inviting residents to take their first look inside the unique experience awaiting them within the new Pulaski County Sportsplex—one of the largest versatile indoor-recreation and wellness facilities in Virginia.
Spanning more than 165,000 square feet, the Sportsplex has been thoughtfully designed as far more than a traditional recreation center. It will be a year-round destination where families gather, athletes train, children play, individuals learn, seniors stay active and neighbors connect through recreation, wellness, education, events and community programming. Every space within the facility has been intentionally designed to enhance whatever activity you may be engaging in. Whether it be fitness, competition, entertainment, educational or community engagement, the Sportsplex is awaiting you.
Pulaski County Administrator Jonathan Sweet said the Sportsplex represents one of the most significant and comprehensive investments in overall quality of life in the County’s history.
“This best-in-class facility ultimately reflects the long-range vision of the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors to impactfully invest in the future of our county and its citizens”, stated Jonathan Sweet, County Administrator. “From providing families with year-round recreation, to strengthening our Cougar athlete pipeline, the Sportsplex is without a doubt an investment in our community and our people. I am confident that it will enhance the quality of life for our residents, bolster tourism, diversify the economy, enhance economic development, promote healthier lifestyles and create unforeseen opportunities that will serve to benefit many generations to come.”
To make the facility accessible to a wide variety of users, Pulaski County through the Parks & Recreation Department will offer three (3) membership options – Essential, Plus, and Elite that will provide our citizens with flexible access based upon each member’s recreational, fitness and wellness goals. *A complete comparison of membership pricing, resident and non-resident rates, and membership benefits is attached to this announcement.
“Our goal has always been to create a facility that truly serves everyone,” said Shay Dunnigan, Director of Pulaski County Parks & Recreation. “Whether someone wants to improve their health, train for competition, celebrate a birthday, participate in a fitness class, or simply spend time with family, the Sportsplex has been designed to make those opportunities available right here in Pulaski County.”
Regardless of membership level, members will enjoy access to a state-of-the-art cardio room and strength room, 1/5th of a mile indoor walking/running track and 110-meter sprint track, 4 dedicated Pickleball courts, studio fitness space, an active aging fitness room, a spacious indoor playground, and open gym opportunities on the eight (8) basketball/volleyball courts. ‘Plus’ members will also enjoy expanded access to a sports performance training center, member lounge, and premium locker rooms complete with towel service. ‘Elite’ members will further receive the complete Sportsplex experience with unlimited group fitness classes, complimentary InBody body composition scans, and the exclusive Family Play Care Pass.
“The Sportsplex was designed to be active from morning until night,” Dunnigan said. “You’ll see parents exercising while their children enjoy the playground, seniors walking the indoor track, athletes training on the turf, birthday parties taking place next door, and community members connecting through recreation every single day. That’s exactly the kind of environment we set out to create.”
Designed with today’s busy families in mind, the Family Play Care Pass allows Elite members to utilize supervised indoor playground time for their children during designated evening hours while enjoying a workout, group fitness class, or other wellness amenity elsewhere in the facility. It is one more way the Sportsplex is removing barriers that often prevent parents from prioritizing their own health and wellness.
One of the Sportsplex’s signature features will be ‘The FORGE’, a D-1 level sports performance training center that will provide a dedicated athletic training environment specifically engineered to support the continued growth and success of Pulaski County Cougar Athletics. Developed with the present and future of Cougar athletes in mind, the space will feature advanced strength and conditioning equipment alongside specialized programming focused on speed, agility, power, injury prevention, and overall athletic performance. Designed to support both in-season development and year-round training, the facility represents a long-term investment in strengthening the Cougar athlete pipeline by providing local student-athletes with premier resources typically found only at collegiate or professional-level training facilities.
Note: The FORGE will be available to Plus and Elite members only during designated public access hours, as its primary purpose is to serve the continued development of Cougar athletes and residents of Pulaski County. Facility scheduling and programming will prioritize organized Cougar athletic performance training, ensuring local student-athletes have consistent access to the specialized equipment and coaching resources that were central to the space’s intended purpose.
The Sportsplex has also been uniquely designed to support both organized athletic events and everyday recreation. Throughout the week, Parks & Recreation will make basketball and volleyball courts available for reservations, allowing youth organizations, schools, travel teams, and individuals to reserve dedicated practice space. Even during the week’s reserved times, at least two courts will remain available for member recreation, allowing room for pickup games, open play and casual use. Generally, on the weekends and for announced events, the Sportsplex will utilize arena space to host travel sports, competitive events of all types, as well as entertainment and expositions as part of its revenue generation model.
“The course the STEA has taken with the membership tiers and correlating pricing, helps to ensure that the members can enjoy a high-quality and affordable experience that meets both their individual wellness and financial goals”, stated Ashley Coake, Chair of the Sports Tourism & Entertainment Authority. “The approach of establishing monthly memberships, as well as generating outside revenues on the weekends from the facility’s large capacity, will prove to be the secret to offering our folks amazing services at an amazing price point.”
Families will discover another unique feature inside the Sportsplex with its more than 6,300 square-foot indoor playground and adjoining arena lounge. Together, these spaces create a unique destination for private celebrations, giving families a weatherproof venue where children can play while creating lasting memories.
Another feature is the Petrone Golf Institute that is connected to the Sportsplex. The ‘Institute’ will provide an indoor space for enhanced player development opportunities for Pulaski County golfers of all ages through scheduled offerings of simulator access, instructional programming, individual lessons, and specific golf performance training. Access to the ‘Institute’ remains to be determined based on availability governed by limitation of capacity around scheduled programing, activities and events.
Fitness and wellness opportunities will extend well beyond traditional gym access. Through Pulaski County Parks & Recreation programming, our certified personal trainers will provide individualized coaching, sports performance training, and small-group fitness services designed specifically to help members achieve their personal fitness, health and wellness goals.
As excitement builds toward opening day, Pulaski County is also preparing to build the team that will bring the Sportsplex to life. Beginning in July, Parks & Recreation will begin recruiting
full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees for positions throughout the facility, creating new career and job opportunities in recreation, fitness, customer service, facility operations, programming and wellness. The County looks forward to assembling a passionate team dedicated to delivering an exceptional experience for every member and guest who walks through the doors.
“This project is a dream come true for Pulaski County, and we are excited to not just make it a reality for our citizens, but to make it affordable for them as well”, stated Laura Walters, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “The Board’s priorities for this facility was to make it versatile, scalable, sustainable and affordable, and I believe we will hit are mark on each of these important objectives.”
Construction remains on schedule for a Fall 2026 opening. In the months ahead, Pulaski County will continue unveiling new details about the Sportsplex experience, including membership enrollment, youth and adult sports programing, group fitness schedules, certified personal training services, Family Play Care, private event packages, court reservation opportunities, Petrone Golf Institute access, facility rentals, employment opportunities and the Grand Opening celebration.
The Mission of the Pulaski County Sportsplex is: ‘To operate a self-sustaining, world-class facility that serves as a premier destination for sports tourism and entertainment by attracting visitors from around the country, and strengthens the community through affordable access to a variety of health, wellness and educational programing, while bolstering our businesses and supporting our overall local economy.’
