The Weinberg Park Heights JCC is a community mainstay for Baltimore Jews, and since March 2024, it has been undergoing a renovation that will breathe new life into the 65-year old facility.
As of Oct. 20, phase three of the project is complete, which means that the renovated fitness center, fitness studios, locker rooms and entries and access pathways to the Center for Sports and Wellness are open.
JCC of Greater Baltimore CEO Paul Lurie said that the community is, of course, thrilled.
“We’ve heard a lot of people getting really excited. We’ve obviously done our best to create temporary spaces during the construction. For the last six months, the gymnasium was turned into a temporary fitness center; the family changing room was turned into temporary locker rooms,” he said. “But nothing is the same as a brand new, newly renovated, big, beautiful space. So, we’re really excited, and the members are really excited.”
The fitness center will have new workout equipment, flooring, lighting and more, while the two new group fitness studios will host cardio, barre and cycling classes. There will also be more free weights in addition to the current equipment. The locker rooms feature new flooring, lockers, shower areas and a steam room.
Perhaps most exciting are the additions to the group fitness spaces. Lurie said that those offerings are a major driver of business at the JCC.
“Group fitness is probably our biggest platform of fitness engagement in Park Heights — primarily single gender with women’s classes,” he said. “[We’re excited to] just to be able to expand that platform to offer more types of group fitness, more classes, bigger spaces, to be able to accommodate more people in class, to really serve the needs of the community.”
While these changes bring noticeable upgrades to the facilities, there are no corresponding rate increases for members. Lurie said that the JCC increases its rates every July, and won’t do so again until July of 2026.
Lurie stressed that the goal of the JCC is to provide affordable services to all members of the community.
“We want to provide fitness, sports and wellness opportunities that meet the needs of the observant community, and so our ability to engage people from throughout the community — regardless of socio-economic or regardless of their religious level — is something that’s really important to us,” he said. “We want to be able to say to anybody who wants to come and participate that you’re part of our community. And if there’s financial constraints, come have a conversation with us, because we want to be able to talk it through with you.”
The project, which still has another phase to go, is financed by The Associated. Lurie said that The Associated took the lead on the development and donor engagement aspects of the project, and garnered the money needed to pay for the renovations.
The fourth phase of the project will be complete in March 2026, at which point two years of planning, financing and construction will end. Lurie said that the community is ready for that day, and that this whole process has been a memorable one.
“It’s a really special opportunity. It’s one of those things where we look at the JCC as a place that can meet the needs of the community and give them a place to be able to deal with their social, emotional, physical, mental and all the other challenges we deal with in this world.”
“We want to be a place that engages families and young children all the way up through older adults,” Lurie added. “And really, we want to work with the community to identify what the biggest needs and goals are, and create our own version of a Jewish playground, where people can come and engage with other Jews throughout the community.”
