Culpeper Wellness Foundation will be moving before year’s end to 19000-19026 Crossroad Parkway across from the Department of Motor Vehicles in Culpeper. This site also will be the new location of Culpeper Sport & Fitness, managed by the Foundation and located currently on Industrial Drive. The new site includes a 7200 square foot warehouse and additional office space that will be renovated to offer new and expanded activities designed to engage local youth, a priority goal for the Foundation as well as many of its county partners. Sliding scale fitness scholarships will continue to be available for low income youth and adults.
With the support of local donors, the Foundation is also planning to add a 14,000 +/- square foot multi-purpose gymnasium to the site. The gymnasium will complement fitness programming and provide much-needed space for recreational use. According to Foundation president Shari Landry, “We envision a place where youth can be found playing pick-up basketball or volleyball or soccer, where local teams practice and recreational teams are formed.” Future programming will also focus on activities that will bring families together and programs that encourage all children to enjoy active play.
Foundation offices will move to the new site before the end of 2020. Renovations of the fitness, programming and child care areas are targeted for completion by fall 2021. According to Landry, the hope is to have the gymnasium built and operating before the end of 2021. Longer term planning includes developing outdoor recreation opportunities on the six plus adjoining acres.
“Within the next few months we will begin consulting with local youth, education professionals, youth service providers and others to gather information that will inform our activity and program planning. We also look forward to collaborating with the County Parks and Recreation staff to advance our common goal of reaching and serving the youth of our community and providing a spectrum of engaging activities for families,” said Landry.
The nonprofit Culpeper Wellness Foundation invests its time and resources in community initiatives that improve health and wellness in Culpeper, Madison and Orange counties. The Foundation operates the Free Clinic of Culpeper, Culpeper Sport & Fitness and Powell Wellness Center, one of only two centers in Virginia certified by the Medical Fitness Association as a medically integrated fitness facility.