Jelleff Rec Center Rebuild Starts, Programs Move
Expect the S Street center to stay closed for more than a year while programs run from Fillmore School.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Washingtonians who use the Jelleff Recreation Center in Georgetown will have to wait more than a year for its return, after officials broke ground on a $28 million modernization of the S Street facility. The center closed in late October and its programs have moved to Fillmore School, one block north.
Why it matters
The Jelleff Recreation Center opened in 1953, and the building's age is the reason officials gave for closing it. For Georgetown families and the people who use its gym and pool, the project decides whether the neighborhood keeps a modern rec center at all, and the timeline is measured in years, not weeks.
The project carries a $28 million price tag and is expected to take over a year, with the center first opened in 1953. The extraction does not give an exact reopening date or details on how programs at Fillmore School will be scheduled while work proceeds.
The players
Muriel Bowser
The Mayor of the District of Columbia, who spoke at the groundbreaking.
Brooke Pinto
The Ward 2 member of the DC Council, who spoke at the groundbreaking.
Thennie Freeman
The director of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, who spoke at the groundbreaking.
Delano Hunter
The director of the DC Department of General Services, who spoke at the groundbreaking.
The details
The official groundbreaking took place Monday, November 9, 2026, with Mayor Muriel Bowser, Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto, Parks and Recreation Director Thennie Freeman and General Services Director Delano Hunter speaking. The facility was closed in late October because of the age of the building, and some programming was moved to Fillmore School across from the Safeway. The new building is planned as a two-story, multigenerational center with a fitness center, an indoor walking track, an upgraded pool and deck, and a regulation-sized outdoor basketball court.
Timeline
1953: Jelleff Recreation Center opens on S Street in Georgetown.
Late October 2026: The facility closes for modernization and programs move to Fillmore School.
Monday, November 9, 2026: Official groundbreaking ceremony is held.
Over a year from November 2026: Modernization is expected to be complete.
The District View
The rebuild sits in a long line of District recreation-center modernizations, and it is aiming for LEED Silver certification. Where the 1953 building was closed for its age, the new facility is designed around a green roof and a broader multigenerational program.
If you use Jelleff for basketball, swimming or the fitness center, your programs are now at Fillmore School one block north until the project finishes, which is expected to take more than a year. Check with the center on where your class or league is meeting while the work goes on.
The takeaway
The old Jelleff building is coming down a piece at a time, and the replacement is expected to take more than a year to finish. Keep an eye on the Parks and Recreation Department for the reopening date and for where your program is meeting in the meantime.
Further reading
For more on other storefronts, facilities and projects opening or closing across the city, browse Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Georgetowner.
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