HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Huntsville leaders celebrated the opening of the new "Mark Russell Recreation Center" with a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday morning.
The center on Taylor Road is named after the former Huntsville City Councilman President. This facility includes two gyms for sports including basketball and "pickleball".
The $6 million center also has a "universal playground", the first in the area for kids with special needs.
"People will be able to play with it no matter what their needs are, and so those families themselves won't have to drive so far to go play on a playground, and I talked to families that were driving to Birmingham to use a playground, and I just couldn't imagine. It really just brings tears to my eyes thinking about it so I'm just glad we have this and we need to build more," says Former Huntsville City Council President, Mark Russell.
Phase two will include a zip line, small toddler play area and 'expression swings'.