5 things you’re going to love about the new Buckwalter Recreation Center in Bluffton

Whether you’re looking to bulk up with some free weights, practice your jumpshot, or perfect your softball swing, the recently expanded Buckwalter Recreation Center in Bluffton has you covered.

The roughly $5.5 million, 35,000-square-foot expansion more than doubled the size of the facility and added a slew of new features.

The major additions include:

▪  An elevated running and walking track that includes treadmills and other cardio equipment.

▪  Two gymnasiums for sports such as basketball or volleyball.

▪  A weight room with racks of free weights and about a dozen machines.

▪  Two racquetball courts.

▪  A batting cage room with three coin-operated automatic pitching machines and one self-pitch practice area.

The expanded facility at the Buckwalter Regional Park also includes a new common area and multipurpose room that can be used for activities ranging from exercise classes to government meetings, Beaufort County Parks and Leisure Services director Shannon Loper said Monday.

“You’ve got the ability to come work out and do multiple different things while you’re here,” she said. “This is not just a gym.”

The center, which initially opened in 2009, also will provide the community with “more opportunities to host things like basketball tournaments and volleyball tournaments,” Loper said.

Deputy PALS director Matt Watts said, “I’ve been in (recreational) facilities all across the state and the region, and it’s hard to find one much nicer than this.”

While the facility is currently up and running, PALS leaders are planning an official grand reopening for the expanded center late this month or in early September.

The center’s hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays.

The cost to use the facility ranges from $1 for daily passes for county residents over 55 years old to $225 for yearly membership for families of four.

This story was originally published August 14, 2017 at 2:18 PM with the headline "5 things you’re going to love about the new Buckwalter Recreation Center in Bluffton."