Cecil Recreation Complex facts for kids

The Cecil Recreation Complex is a huge and fun place for sports and activities in Jacksonville, Florida. It's located on the west side of the city. This amazing complex was part of a big plan called the Better Jacksonville Plan in 2000. It cost $25 million to build! The City of Jacksonville's Parks and Recreation department takes care of all the cool facilities here. It covers a massive area, perfect for all kinds of outdoor fun.

A Look Back: How Cecil Complex Started

Before 1999, this area was a huge military base called Naval Air Station Cecil Field. It was enormous, covering about 23,000 acres! During that time, the city of Jacksonville created Cecil Field Park. This park is now a part of the bigger Cecil Recreation Complex. The complex officially opened in 2004.

Explore the Fun: Facilities at Cecil Complex

The Cecil Recreation Complex has many different areas for everyone to enjoy. From sports fields to swimming pools, there's always something to do!

Cecil Field Park: Sports and Play

Cecil Field Park offers lots of ways to stay active. It has a modern gymnasium and a fitness center. You can also find:

• Two baseball fields with lights for night games.
• An outdoor basketball court.
• A football field.
• Two docks for fishing at Lake Newman.
• Many picnic tables and grills for outdoor meals.
• Fun playground equipment for younger kids.
• Restrooms for convenience.
• Two adult softball fields and one youth softball field.
• Six tennis courts with lights.

Jacksonville Equestrian Center: Horse Shows and More

The Jacksonville Equestrian Center is a very special part of the complex. It's a huge building, about 125,000 square feet! It opened in March 2004 and has 4,000 seats. This center hosts many exciting events, like:

• Horse shows, including fancy Dressage competitions and thrilling Rodeos.
• Performances by the famous Royal Lipizzan Stallions.
• The annual 4-H horse show.
• Non-horse events like Monster truck shows and music concerts.

Community Center: Programs for Everyone

The Community Center is a great place to learn and meet people. It offers programs for:

• Children and teens.
• Senior citizens.
• Families who homeschool.

You can also take computer classes to learn new skills. Community groups can use the center for meetings. Private groups can rent it for their own special events.

Aquatics Center: Swim All Year Round

The Aquatics Center is perfect for swimming, no matter the weather. It cost $5.7 million to build in 2004. It features:

• An Olympic-sized swimming pool.
• A family-friendly exercise pool.

Both pools are heated, so you can swim all year. In summer, large glass panels open up for fresh air. Many high school swim meets have been held here since 2004. You can take swimming lessons, and there are special programs for babies and toddlers. Older adults enjoy Water aerobics classes. There's even a youth swim team in the summer!

Softball Diamonds: Hit a Home Run!

The complex has dedicated fields for softball players.

• The Cecil Fastpitch Softball Complex has four lighted fields. These fields are mainly for girls' fastpitch softball and girls' tee-ball teams.
• Lake Fretwell Adult Softball has two fields and two covered areas called pavilions.

Gymnasium: Stay Fit and Active

The gymnasium is a busy place for different sports and workouts.

• You can play open basketball and volleyball.
• There are also racquetball courts.
• The fitness center has free weights and special exercise machines.
• Programs include cardio workouts, senior aerobics, and personal training.
• Saunas are available in both locker rooms for relaxing after a workout.