Northeast Jewish center purchased by Richland County. It features aquatics center, sauna
The Katie and Irwin Jewish Community Center in northeast Richland County has been purchased by the county’s recreation commission, giving residents access to an aquatics center, basketball courts, a gym, sauna and other amenities.
County officials announced Friday the opening of the Richland County Wellness Center, located at 306 Flora Drive in Columbia. The 50,000-square-foot facility was acquired by the Richland County Recreation Commission earlier this month for $7 million. Funding for the center was made available in the state’s 2024 and 2025 fiscal year budgets, according to a news release.
The 22-acre facility is open seven days a week: from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
The acquisition will allow the commission “to elevate its commitment to providing top-quality recreation and wellness services, further fostering a vibrant and healthy community,” a news release said.
The Richland County Recreation Commission was created in 1960 to provide residents outside Columbia’s city limits with recreational opportunities that include parks, sports complexes and community centers, according to information on its website. All residents, even those living in the city, are eligible to join the facility.
