Program Information

The programmatic approach to the new Windsor Chavis Nocho Community Complex (WCNCC) is rooted in the shared desire of both Greensboro Parks and Recreation and Greensboro Public Library’s vision of creating a facility that will provide new and non-traditional opportunities to the local community. Both the existing Windsor Recreation Center and Vance Chavis Library, along with Nocho Park, are neighborhood hubs and have served the community well throughout the years. However, each facility has limitations that challenge their ability to respond to both current trends and expanded programmatic desires.

The Greensboro Parks and Recreation and Greensboro Public Library leadership desires a new facility that is seen as a destination where numerous programmatic opportunities are offered, allowing the facility to truly be a place where patrons can spend an entire day due to the diversity in amenities and services. Rather than a typical recreation center or library, where a user may go for a singular event, the new WCNCC facility would be a place where someone could string activities together either as an individual or as families, that would allow for both simultaneous and sequential activities and programs to occur. In addition to the vision of leadership, longtime residents shared personal stories during engagement sessions that spoke to the significant role the park, library, and recreation center played in the their lives. Residents shared stories of learning to swim, family reunions, Sunday afternoon picnics, community events, and other activities that cemented both the park and recreation center as cornerstones of community. The community and leadership collectively see the reimagined facility as a place where community, dialogue, togetherness, discussions, and culture can all come together to create a dynamic, intergenerational mixing hub and reinstall itself as the place to gather.

Major Program Zones

Given the desire for the new Windsor Chavis Nocho Community Complex to be viewed as a unified facility rather than having a distinct separation between library components and recreation components, special consideration was given to how the space categories were established. While the model of a recreation center and library in a shared building is not uncommon, most are designed such that a specific part of the building is library and a specific part of the building is recreation center. This separation may allow for easier division of resources; however, the aspect of community is often negated due to users visiting either the library or recreation center. The desire for this program is that all the spaces are interspersed, allowing for significant overlap and intertwining of ages and space types and supporting the desire of the community and leadership to have a facility that promotes intergenerational mixing. Rather than utilizing traditional building distributions, the major program zones are organized by use types (collection, programs, recreation, etc.) instead of by larger facility type (library or recreation center). This results in a more blended model and yields the following major categories to establish the space program list.

Program and Community Spaces

Throughout the engagement process, both the leadership and the community expressed desires for numerous types of amenities and programmatic opportunities. These were often expansive and far ranging, both in terms of program sizes and space needs, including everything from a space where the owner or an associated partner could develop a small studio or provide health coaching to places for teaching general education classes, a recital space, teaching nutritional or food skills, or a place for large community gatherings and discourse. As a result of the diverse programmatic needs, a variety of sizes and types of spaces are proposed.

Among the spaces provided are four, small flexible community spaces that are designed for either local vendors, health partners, community partners, non-profits, or other relevant agencies to provide services that directly support the local community. These spaces are expected to be highly flexible and easily reconfigured. Larger program rooms in the facility include two large multi-purpose spaces, three flexible program rooms, a small meeting room, and dance and fitness classroom. Other more dedicated spaces are also provided that support technology and new program opportunities that emerged during the outreach sessions. These spaces included two technology/makerspace labs, an audiovisual room, a children’s program room, and a sensory room for individuals and families with special needs.

To promote community and address the food insecurity in the immediate vicinity teaching kitchen will be included. This space will provide a place for instruction on nutrition and food preparation.

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Recreation Spaces

The recreation spaces are designed to promote health and fitness and improve upon the offerings that currently exist at the Windsor Recreation Center in both scale and quality. The existing basketball courts do not support the current demand and the new courts will include a regulation full court and two cross courts as well as adequate perimeter clearances. Bleacher seating is also provided allowing for use as both recreational/pick-up and league play.

While the existing pool has served the community well, the addition of the indoor pool will allow for year-round usage and supplement the other outdoor pools that exist within the Parks and Recreation system. The pool is anticipated to include spaces for both lap swim and play along with a lazy river component. The multiple aspects will appeal to the diverse users and provide varying types of aquatic experiences. A water slide is also being proposed. Fitness areas for both weights and cardio activities will be new additions to the building and supplement the other active program spaces. A weight room and cardio equipment in the open public areas will promote utilization and exercise and the incorporation of equipment within the open program spaces increases opportunities for mixing of collection, programs, and recreational spaces. A running track will also be incorporated as part of the gymnasium.

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Collections and Quiet Spaces

These spaces represent the areas typically thought of as the public library and include the adult, teen, and children’s collections, seating areas, and any dedicated quiet areas. The collection capacity is not considered a driving factor for the program, but instead, a desire to have more public and programming opportunities to transition from a quiet focused environment to one that promotes activity, active learning, dialogue, and a diversity of programs. In contrast to the existing Vance Chavis Library, the new facility will provide dedicated spaces for teens and children including a dedicated children’s program room. Seating and computers will also be increased throughout the facility.

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Operations and Staff Spaces

Outside Play and Nature Areas

The expansive site of Nocho Park and Windsor Recreation Center provides numerous opportunities for outdoor programming. While the existing recreation center is largely inwardly focused, the new facility is intended to be integrated with the site to maximize community integration and diversity of programs. Among the outdoor spaces being proposed are an expanded playground including nature play, shade areas, amphitheater, outdoor seating, covered basketball court, restroom facility and parking. The site is envisioned as a canvas where additional programs can occur whether formally or informally including, amphitheater space and group play areas.

The information received from the community engagement also indicated that there is a strong desire gathering space and a field for soccer, football, and multi-use space that the existing baseball field supports. Therefore, a large multipurpose field will be provided that can accommodate a regulation soccer field or football field, with opportunities to accommodate baseball and softball through removable outfield fencing. To support the multi-use field, a small structure containing men’s and women’s bathrooms and storage space will be created.

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Guilford County Programming

Guilford County will offer various services to residents from county departments including Public Health, Social Services, and Cooperative Extension at the Windsor Chavis Nocho Community Complex. Residents will have access to eligibility services including Medicaid, Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), and Women, Infants, and Children services (WIC).

Public Health and Cooperative Extension will offer educational classes centered on wellness, exercise, and health and nutrition. Cooperative Extension will also connect residents with food recourses through the county’s food security program.

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