Your Voice, Your Elzie Odom Athletic Center: Help Shape Its Future!
Published on July 18, 2025
By Susan Schrock, Office of Communication
The City of Arlington is calling on all residents to lend their voice and help shape the future of the Elzie Odom Athletic Center. The Arlington Parks and Recreation Department is preparing to renovate this north Arlington facility next year, and your input is crucial to making it the best it can be.
Whether you're a regular visitor, enjoy specific programs, or are new to what the center offers, we want to hear from you. The City is gathering feedback through an online survey to understand what improvements you'd most like to see. This is your chance to directly influence the design process and ensure the renovated center is more active, inclusive, and enjoyable for everyone in our community.
Elzie Odom Athletic Center Survey
In 2023, Arlington voters approved $3 million in proposed improvements for the Elzie Odom Athletic Center as part of the $24.6 million Parks and Recreation Bond Program. This funding will allow for the design and renovation of interior spaces of the 60,000-square-foot facility, located at 1601 NE Green Oaks Blvd.
Possible improvements, which you'll be asked to rank in the survey, include:
- Completely renovating the main restrooms
- Adding family restrooms
- Renovating gym floors and bleachers
- Renovating arena restrooms and adding locker rooms and showers
- New weight room equipment
- Upgrading the main lobby entrance
- Adding event rental space
- Upgrade floors, ceiling and paint throughout the facility
You can also suggest amenities you've seen at other recreation centers, bringing even more innovative ideas to the table!
"We are committed to creating a revitalized Elzie Odom Athletic Center that truly serves the needs and desires of our community," Parks and Recreation Director James Orloski said. "With a defined budget for this large facility, the survey results will be invaluable in helping us evaluate and prioritize improvements our residents want to see.”
The City is working with design consultant Elements of Architecture, who will use your survey responses to create a conceptual plan. Construction is anticipated to begin in February 2026 and be completed by May 2027.
Don't miss this opportunity to make a difference! The online survey will be open through Friday, July 25, 2025.