People were already lined up outside the new Decatur Recreation Center at 4:30 a.m. on its first day, half an hour before the 5 a.m. soft opening. Mayor Kent Lawrence told The Decatur Daily that close to 1,000 people registered that Monday. The building opened to the public Sept. 28 at 270 Beltline Road SW, in Wilson Morgan Park.
Most of those people signed up for something that costs nothing. The free Community Membership is real, and it covers more of the building than most people expect. Its edge is also predictable. Anything you do on your own on dry floor is free. Fees start when your workout needs water, a dedicated strength room or an instructor. That puts the pool at the center of the paid side, and the pool is the part of Decatur recreation that people have known longest.
The Free Line Runs Along the Pool Deck
The Decatur City Council approved the center's fee structure on Aug. 17, 2026. In the city's summary of that meeting, general access stays free through the Community Membership, and separate fees apply to aquatics, functional fitness, locker rentals, facility rentals and specialty classes. The current rate tables on the City of Decatur's recreation center page sort out like this.
| Free with a Community Membership | Requires a paid membership or fee |
|---|---|
| Elevated indoor walking track | 10-lane pool: lap swim, open swim, aquatic fitness |
| Open gyms on four basketball and volleyball courts | Functional Fitness strength room |
| Open cardio areas | Group fitness classes, Spin, Reformer Pilates |
| Lobby, community spaces, Wi-Fi | Locker rentals |
| Locker rooms | Facility rentals and specialty programs |
Locker rooms themselves are free, but a locker rental is $3 a day, $15 a month or $150 a year. Residents and nonresidents get the same access and pay the same rates.
That free column is a full workout on its own: walking, pickup basketball, open volleyball and treadmills, with no monthly charge.
The Math on Getting Back in the Water
For years, the Aquadome was where Decatur went to swim. Its last regular operating day was Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, after nearly six decades, Rocket City Now reported. The same report said Decatur Youth Services would use the Aquadome building while its own new facility is built. Programs moved to Fort Decatur for the gap between the two buildings.
The replacement pool has 10 lanes and is 25 yards long. A Community Membership does not include pool access. Here are the aquatics rates.
- Individual: $25 a month or $250 a year
- Student, 18 and under: $18 a month or $180 a year
- Couple: $40 a month or $400 a year
- Family, up to five children: $60 a month or $560 a year
- Additional child under 18: $10 a month
- Single-day pool pass: $5 per visit
The break-even point is simple to work out. Five day passes cost $25, the same as one month of the individual membership. Someone who swims once a week does about as well with day passes. Anyone in the water more often than that comes out ahead with the monthly rate. The annual individual rate of $250 equals ten monthly payments, so a swimmer who goes year-round gets two months free.
For families, the $60 monthly rate covers up to five children. A household that would otherwise buy a $5 pass for each person on each visit gets past $60 quickly.
The aquatics membership also includes the center's aquatic fitness classes unless a class is marked as a specialty program, so water aerobics does not require the separate group fitness membership. Seniors and military members get 10% off applicable aquatics rates.
The pool is open only during scheduled lap swim, open swim and aquatics hours, not every hour the building is open. Check the pool schedule on RecDesk before you pack a bag.
Classes Are Where an Instructor Changes the Price
Classes follow the same rule. You pay when someone is leading the session. The Group Fitness Membership is $35 a month and covers every standard class except Spin and Reformer Pilates. Without it, a standard class costs $5 per drop-in. Spin is $10 a class for drop-ins and $3 for members. Reformer Pilates is $10 for drop-ins and $5 for members. You must be 16 or older to hold a Group Fitness Membership.
At $5 per drop-in, the $35 membership pays for itself at the seventh class of the month. A drop-in covers one class only. Taking two back-to-back classes without a membership means paying for two registrations.
The October calendar on RecDesk includes Reformer Flow, Morning Reformer Pilates, Spin, Zumba, water aerobics and yoga, scheduled at morning, midday and evening times. The city strongly encourages advance registration for Spin and Reformer Pilates because both have limited equipment and class sizes.
The Functional Fitness strength room has dumbbells, kettlebells, adjustable benches, medicine balls and plyometric boxes. It costs $10 a month or $100 a year, with the same 10% senior and military discount. That is the cheapest paid tier in the building, and the one most likely to suit someone who lifts after walking the free track.
One billing detail matters for every paid tier. Monthly memberships bought online do not renew automatically. To set up automatic renewal, go to the front desk in person. If you buy online, you need to renew each month yourself.
Getting Through Member Services
Everyone who comes in checks in at Member Services, and you need a Community Membership for regular access, even if you only plan to use the free areas. The membership is how the center handles check-ins, waivers and program registration. The sign-up goes like this.
- Create an account on RecDesk. Members 19 and older manage their own accounts.
- Add children under 19 to a parent or legal guardian's household account.
- Claim the free Community Membership, then add any paid tier you want.
- Check in at Member Services when you arrive.
The rules for younger kids are where families get caught. The city's page says children under 16 without a state-issued ID must have a parent or guardian in the building and must be taking part in a supervised program, team or class. The FAQ on the same page words the adult-supervision rule a little differently. Read both on the City of Decatur page before you drop off a teenager.
Current hours are Monday through Thursday 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday noon to 8 p.m. On Sundays, the doors don't open until noon.
What the Free Floor Is Building Toward
The free tier is a deliberate choice, and the city is watching how it works out. Parks and Recreation Director Hunter Allen told The Decatur Daily that the city budgeted about $1.3 million for the center's annual operating costs, not counting salaries.
"This year will tell a lot," Allen said.
Allen also said the city hopes to start hosting basketball and volleyball tournaments and swim meets by the end of this year or sometime next year. He estimated 10 to 15 employees on duty at a time, including about four lifeguards while the pool is open. The center also has a smoothie bar and a concession area. Once tournaments start, the four courts that host free open gym will also be booked for events. Keep an eye on the calendar this winter.
League play is already filling the courts. RecDesk lists winter 2026 Jr. NBA youth basketball divisions for ages 5 to 13, open for registration.
Next door is Sunshine Park, which began as a roughly $2 million inclusive playground designed so children with special needs and disabilities can play alongside other children. The city built it with Everyday Sunshine, a nonprofit led by Jeff and Andrea Sharp, using public and private funding.
"Sunshine Park represents what we want recreation in Decatur to be: equitable, inclusive, welcoming and accessible," Allen told the paper.
The new building doesn't replace every neighborhood option. Lawrence said the city plans to keep the Carrie Matthews Recreation Center open and is renovating it for residents in Northwest Decatur. He estimated the work could take about a year, though no firm timeline has been set.
If you're working out whether a pool membership or a spot on the free track fits your week, this guide should help. At James Stallworth, we follow the projects that change daily life in Decatur, from the Beltline Road rec center to the Carrie Matthews renovation, and we're happy to talk through what they mean for your home. Let's Connect. Start with a Free Home Valuation.
