New Climbing Wall Means Temporary Gym Closure at Community Center

Published on August 20, 2026

On Monday, August 24, the gym inside the Chapel Hill Community Center will temporarily close so that crews can begin replacing the climbing wall with a brand-new, expanded wall. Parks and Recreation staff expect to reopen the gym and welcome climbers back in December.

“The new climbing wall will carry us into the future while honoring so many memories made in the last four decades,” said Kevin Robinson, the Town’s Senior Manager of Planning and Park Operations. “We hope climbers notice that the look and feel of the new wall, with its cracks and overhangs, nods to the experience they loved on the old wall.”

Opened in 1987, the outgoing wall is believed to be one of the oldest climbing walls operating in the country. “This wall has been home to 37 climbing competitions and countless recreation programs in the last forty years. It’s a staple in our climbing community,” said Recreation Supervisor Keith Dodson. “While we’re sad to see it go, its legacy is staying right here in the gym where we’ll build years of new memories.”

During the gym closure, the rest of the Community Center – including the pool, locker rooms, meeting room, and restrooms – will remain open.

About the New Climbing Wall

The new climbing wall will offer more than 5,000 square feet of climbing, designed in part to mirror the climbing experience at Pilot Mountain in Surry County. The wall includes many exciting features:

• A new King Swing, which will give climbers a chance to make some powerful, dynamic leaps.

• Play climbing components, including ice pick, disc, ladder, and army rope climbing.

• Adaptive climbing gear to support climbing for community members of all abilities.

Five hundred thousand dollars in funding for this $749,000 project comes from the 2024 voter-approved bond referendum to address Parks and Recreation needs. The remainder will come from the Parks and Recreation Department's annual facilities maintenance capital funding.

“We know lots of folks enjoy the gym and that the temporary closure requires patience,” said Robinson. “We think it’ll be well worth the wait, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back and celebrate the new climbing wall together.”

Note: An earlier version of this story explained only the 2024 bond referendum portion of funding for this project. The story has been updated to include the full project cost and an additional funding source.