High Point adult activity center proposed for Oakview neighborhood moving forward
Mar 31, 2025
HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) -- A Center For Active Adults at 503 James Rd. in High Point is moving forward after years of planning, with the final plans expected to be revealed soon.
It’s basically a senior center, but the minimum age is 50, and it’s specifically designed to accommodate activitie
s geared toward fitness.
It is projected to be about 20,000 square feet and have amenities like a walking track, pickleball courts, fitness equipment and more, but there have been some concessions to make it happen.
“We took a look at our demographics ... A city of our size, you could almost vouch for the need for two centers,” High Point Parks and Recreation Director Lee Tillery.
Tillery said that with more people over 50, the city needed to offer more resources.
Voters approved $12 million toward a new senior center in 2019 as part of a bond package. Currently, senior programs are offered at the Roy B. Culler Jr. Center at the remnants of Oak Hollow Mall.
“We have talked about it for a long time, and we wanted to make sure we got it right,” Tillery said.
The plot of land owned by the city along James Road is currently home to an open field area where kids often practice sports.
“I think everyone wants to see ... a place to gather ... To take that whole complete field, that’s ... wrong,” said Jim Bronnert, a High Point resident.
Bronnert hopes the city reconsiders taking the entirety of the open space next to the Oakview Recreation Center. Preliminary renderings from CPL, an architecture firm in a publicly available RFQ, indicate a ball field and the parking lot would be lost.
“Kids practice football. Kids practice soccer. A lot of people walk through here,” Bronnert said.
Tillery says they will have options.
“We’ll have some trails outside within the campus of Oak View where people can walk outside as well,” he said.
Tillery also said there is the High Point Athletic Complex for additional practice needs, which is 1.6 miles away.
Final design plans are expected in April. Construction is expected to begin this summer, with completion around fall 2026.
Bronnert also said he is concerned about increased traffic, but any traffic changes proposed are unclear at this juncture. ...read more read less
