ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball was joined by the County’s Department of Recreation & Parks Director Nick Mooneyhan to officially open the new addition to the department’s North Laurel Community Center (NLCC) at 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road in Laurel. This nearly 23,000 square foot, one-story addition to the NLCC includes a lap pool, a therapy leisure pool, women’s and men’s locker rooms, six family “universal design restrooms,” a reception area, office space, a youth playground, and a preschool playground. Photos from the March 30, 2026 ribbon cutting event can be found on Howard County Government’s Flickr website.
Pools promote fitness and fun, help relieve stress and anxiety, provide a natural gathering spot for socializing, introduce people to learning how to swim and water safety programs, and help us cool off on those hot days, like today. For years, our North Laurel residents have asked for a pool. Today marks a major accomplishment in meeting the needs of our community as we fulfill the long-awaited requests with the opening on this new addition to our North Laurel Community Center. I’m proud of the teamwork we’ve all put forward to make this dream a reality and open the door to affordable aquatic amenities for our North Laurel residents.
The County completed land acquisition for the site in 1997, with planning for the Center beginning in 2000. Subsequently, the North Laurel Planning Committee held their first meeting on January 24th, 2007, to discuss the vision for the center. Then-County Executive Ken Ulman opened the center in June of 2011. Little progress was made on the center until Ball hosted the groundbreaking in June 2024. Ball invested more than $22 million toward phase two of this project, which included the pool and addition.
At 4,600 square feet and five feet deep, NLCC’s lap pool features a zero-entry area with railings that allows those with mobility challenges to transition in and out of the water independently; this zero-entry area does not interfere with the lap lanes. Whereas the 3,000 square foot therapy leisure pool ranges in depth from three to six feet, will be kept at a warmer temperature, and features a chair lift to assist with pool entry and exit, a large water slide, and a toddler slide. Like Recreation & Parks’ pool at its Roger Carter Community Center in Ellicott City, the pool’s NLCC’s pools will offer open swim times, swim classes, therapeutic programs, camps, exercise programs, and party space.
Recreation and Parks strives to provide programs and services to Howard Countains. The two pools allow us to expand our swim lessons while offering the entire community a place to gather. And the two new playgrounds also include accessible features to break down any barriers to play.
NLCC’s new 6,500 square foot youth playground features a:
- Large composite play structure with ramps for accessible access;
- Large tower with two tube slides, a roller slide, and side-by-side slide from a lower deck;
- Multiple climbing opportunities and sensory and sound panels;
- Three-bay shaded swing structure with six swings, including swings suitable for all age groups and abilities; and
- Cone shaped rope climbing spinner, a wheelchair accessible merry go round spinner, and a stand-up spinner;
- Freestanding climbing structure
- Sculpted bear climber with tunnel;
- Inclusive see saw; and
- Several musical chime and drum elements.
Located adjacent to the NLCC’s preschool room, the 1,000 square foot preschool playground features a shaded composite play structure that includes several climbable access points, an accessible transfer platform for access to the main platform of the structure, a regular slide, and a roller slide. Around the main structure, there are also additional sensory components for touch and sound experiences.
Further, the addition’s six family “universal design restrooms,” which includes an adult changing table, brings the total number offered in County-owned buildings up to seven, including Recreation & Parks’ Gary J. Arthur Community Center, Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, Blandair Regional Park’s North area’s Laura’s Place Playground, Troy Park at Elkridge, and NLCC (featuring two) and the Department of Community Resources and Services’ East Columbia 50+ Center. The State’s Circuit Court for Howard County courthouse in Ellicott City also features a universal design restroom with an adult changing table. The addition of universal design restrooms in these facilities with adjustable adult changing tables and/or overhead track lifts ensure that all residents, regardless of mobility or other challenges, can fully enjoy these public facilities. These restrooms also align with Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
The NLCC’s original structure features a gymnasium, fitness, multi-purpose, dance and game rooms, a Howard County Police Department Community Resource Office, office space for the Howard County Health Department’s Community Engagement and Women, Infants and Children programs, playground and more. The addition of this new nearly 23,000 square foot facility, brings the NLCC building footprint from about 62,000 square feet to nearly 85,000 square feet.
Here is what others had to say:
- Christiana Rigby, Howard County Councilmember – “Today is an incredible milestone for North Laurel and Savage. For three decades, residents advocated for a public pool. They advocated for a hub of recreation and leisure where community members can gather together, families can make memories, neighbors can connect, and seniors, especially those recovering from health challenges, can find healing. I’m deeply appreciative of everyone who helped get this project across the finish line, including the residents, community leaders, County staff, and partners who kept pushing forward and never gave up on this vision.”
- Bibi Foston, President, Southeast Howard County Civic Association – “North Laurel, we finally got the long-awaited, much needed pool! Thanks to all that made it possible. I cannot swim! …I led advocacy for something I cannot use. It wasn’t about me; it was all about the community…. we are proud to have it [the pool] here as it moves us [North Laurel] up the ladder.”
- Susan Garber, President/Board Chair, Savage Community Association – “This has been one of those cases of a promise made, a promise kept. And this was not the first one. Again, thank you Calvin Ball. We are very happy that seniors [older adults] will be able to make use of this [indoor] pool year-round, experiencing therapeutic exercise, and for the more energetic in the crowd, to be out there continuing to build their strength.”
- Amy Montgomery, Swimmer and Community Member – “Having a pool just three miles from my home is a game changer, it means more time in the water, and that’s how athletes are built, including Masters athletes. This isn’t just a pool, it’s an investment in opportunity, health, and community for years to come. Thank you to County Executive Calvin Ball for making this vision a reality.”
In addition, the project performed site and stormwater management work, new onsite trails, and a new paved access point for emergency vehicles.
For more information about the NLCC, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/recreation-parks/north-laurel-community-center.