Visit Barwell Road Community Center: Hours, Activities & Rentals
Barwell Road Community Center is a City of Raleigh recreation facility at 5857 Barwell Park Drive, Raleigh, NC 27610. Located at Barwell Road Park in southeast Raleigh, it offers two air-conditioned gymnasiums, a fitness room, recreation classes, rentable event rooms, playgrounds and the Panther Play 60 Challenge course.
Reviewed October 20, 2026. Classes, gym availability, rental fees and holiday schedules may change. This is an independent visitor guide, not the City booking office.
Barwell Community Center Hours
The City of Raleigh publishes the following regular operating schedule for the community center.
| Day | Opening Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday–Friday | 7:00 AM–9:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM–3:00 PM |
| Sunday | 1:00 PM–6:00 PM |
For an updated open-gym schedule, the City’s Barwell flyer provides a dedicated Open Play Line: 919-996-6736.
Holiday hours, weather closures and scheduled maintenance may differ from the standard schedule.
What Is Available at Barwell Road Park?
Two Indoor Gymnasiums
Two air-conditioned gyms separated by a wall support basketball, organized recreation, open play and approved rentals. Sports flooring and hoops are available.
Indoor recreationFitness & Weight Room
Two treadmills, two recumbent bikes, three ellipticals, a universal machine, a dip machine and free weights.
Paid fitness passesClassrooms & Dance Room
Smaller meeting rooms, a large multipurpose room and a dance room are available for programs and approved private reservations.
Reservable spacePlaygrounds
Play structures serve children ages 2–5 and 5–12, with swings, rubberized surfaces and covered picnic tables.
Family outdoor spacePanther Play 60 Challenge
An outdoor challenge course features 11 climbing structures and a timed 40-yard dash on a synthetic turf surface.
Outdoor activityCommunity Garden
Barwell Road Park has a community garden initiative with gardening opportunities supported through Raleigh Parks and community partners.
Neighborhood activityThe larger Barwell Road Park is approximately 54.5 acres and was established in 2006. The outdoor playground and Panther Play 60 course opened in 2021. The City lists the playground and challenge course as open from dusk until dawn; check park signage and current posted access rules before visiting.
Fitness Room Fees & Memberships
Raleigh Parks publishes fitness room passes that can be used at participating Raleigh Parks Community Center fitness rooms, including Barwell Road Park.
| Pass Type | Published Price |
|---|---|
| Adult daily pass (18+) | $2 |
| Adult monthly pass | $15 |
| Adult annual pass | $150 |
| Teen monthly pass (13–17) | $15 |
| Teen annual pass (13–17) | $150 |
These prices are for the fitness room, not a universal admission price for every class, special event or court reservation.
How to Start Using the Fitness Room
- Decide whether you need a daily, monthly or annual pass.
- For teen users, contact the center about the required orientation.
- Visit Barwell Road Community Center and ask staff to issue the appropriate Raleigh Parks fitness pass.
- Bring suitable workout clothing, indoor athletic shoes and water.
- Follow equipment-use, supervision and shared-space rules.
Classes, Children’s Activities & Recreation Programs
Barwell offers a changing schedule of youth enrichment, sports, fitness, dance and seasonal activities. Each program may have its own age requirement, registration deadline and charge.
Examples From Raleigh’s 2026 Program Announcements
| Program | Published Details |
|---|---|
| Fallin into Fun | Preschool activities for ages 3–5; October 15 and November 19, 2026, from 10–11 AM. $5 residents / $8 nonresidents. |
| Barwell Tumbling | Beginner and intermediate Friday sessions at 5 PM and 6 PM for ages 7–11. Published fee: $56 residents / $71 nonresidents. |
| Beginning Ballet | Saturday Ballet I, 9:30–10:15 AM for ages 3–8; Ballet II, 10:30–11:15 AM for ages 5–13. |
| African Dance for Youth | Saturday 11:30 AM–12:15 PM, ages 7–15. Published dance-program price: $55 residents / $70 nonresidents. |
These are dated 2026 examples, not a promise of continuous enrollment or future class availability. October 15 has passed; the November 19 preschool session should be checked for remaining places.
Register Through Raleigh RecLink
Basketball, Volleyball & Open Gym Rules
Barwell’s open-gym program is separate from private gym rentals. Its official schedule flyer includes activities for adults, youth and older adults, with availability subject to change.
Published Open Gym Schedule Reference
| Activity | Schedule in City Flyer |
|---|---|
| Adult basketball, 18+ | Monday–Thursday, 6:30–8:30 PM; Saturday, 9:30–11:30 AM |
| Youth basketball, 17 and younger | Friday, 6–8 PM; Saturday, noon–2 PM; Sunday April–October, 2–5 PM |
| 50+ open basketball | Monday and Thursday, 3–6 PM |
| Volleyball, ages 13+ | Seasonal November–March listing: Sunday, 1–5 PM |
Identification & Youth Open Play
- Participants aged 18 and older must show a valid government-issued photo ID, according to the City flyer. School and work IDs are not accepted as substitutes.
- For youth age 17 and younger, a parent or guardian must complete the Youth Open Play form annually.
- Ask staff about the current capacity, available courts, sports equipment, fees and play policies before arriving.
Barwell Community Center Rental Prices & Capacities
Barwell Road Community Center provides multiple event spaces, including gyms, classrooms, a multipurpose room, a dance room and a warming kitchen. Raleigh published updated rental details on October 19, 2026.
| Rental Space | Capacity | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gymnasiums | 100–300 depending on activity | $85 |
| Small Classroom | 15 | $30 |
| Medium Classroom | 40–60 | $40 |
| Extra Large Multipurpose Room | 100–125 | $75 |
| Dance Room | 25 | $40 |
| Warming Kitchen | Contact facility | $25 |
Extra Fees and Booking Conditions
Non-refundable application fee.
Refundable subject to any charges assessed after the event. Processing may take up to five business weeks.
Supervisory fee for applicable after-hours rentals.
Applied to hourly rental rates, not the deposit, staffing or other additional charges.
Room Features
- Small Classroom: approximately 11 × 28 feet, whiteboard, sink and countertop.
- Medium Classroom: approximately 30 × 28 feet, projection screen and whiteboard.
- Extra Large Multipurpose Room: approximately 60 × 28 feet, projection screen and whiteboard.
- Dance Room: approximately 30 × 28 feet, full-length mirror, ballet barre and wooden floor.
- Gymnasiums: approximately 74 × 108 feet, air conditioning and sports flooring.
- Warming Kitchen: microwave, stove and refrigerator. It is designed for warming rather than full meal preparation.
Projection screens do not mean projectors are included. Raleigh’s rental instructions state that electronic equipment such as projectors and microphones is not supplied for renters.
Sample Rental Budgets
| Example | Estimated Total |
|---|---|
| Small classroom, 2 hours: $60 + $15 application + $100 deposit | $175 upfront |
| Medium classroom, 3 hours: $120 + $15 application + $100 deposit | $235 upfront |
| Multipurpose room, 4 hours: $300 + $15 application + $100 deposit | $415 upfront |
Examples assume the listed base hourly rate and no additional staffing or other charges. The damage deposit may be refunded after the event. Nonresident or after-hours charges can increase the total. Actual pricing is established by City staff.
How to Reserve a Room at Barwell Road Community Center
Important Event Rules
- Freestanding decorations are allowed, but decorations cannot be attached to walls.
- Renters must clean the space, including trash disposal and returning tables and chairs.
- Tables and chairs may be available depending on inventory.
- Grills and fish fryers are not permitted.
- Teen and dance parties have additional guest-list and chaperone requirements.
- Some event types require permits or insurance; events expecting more than 100 attendees may need an assembly permit.
- Rentals extending beyond the reserved time can incur additional charges.
Use the current City rental webpage for up-to-date rates when an older PDF disagrees. For example, the current webpage lists a $30/hour supervisory fee, while the brochure lists $20/hour.
Barwell Road Park Community Garden
Raleigh Parks has developed a community gardening initiative at Barwell Road Park with support from the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and community partners. The project includes individual plots, shared growing spaces and water access.
Residents interested in gardening should contact Raleigh Parks to learn about plot eligibility, applications, seasonal participation and volunteer opportunities. A garden’s physical presence does not automatically mean individual plots are available.
Address, Directions, Parking & Accessibility
Barwell Road Community Center
5857 Barwell Park Drive
Raleigh, North Carolina 27610
The center serves southeastern Raleigh and is associated with the Barwell Road Park and Barwell Road Elementary School area.
Before You Arrive
- Navigate to Barwell Park Drive, rather than assuming the community center entrance is on Barwell Road.
- Confirm the location of your classroom, gym session or rental with the front desk.
- Ask about accessible parking, entrance arrangements and accommodations if needed.
- For a large event, ask the renter or center staff about parking availability and guest arrival instructions.
- Plan additional time when school activity, sports events or community gatherings may increase traffic around the park.
A precise current parking-space count and accessible-parking inventory were not confirmed from the reviewed City facility information.
Which Barwell Service Do You Need?
| Your Goal | Best Next Step |
|---|---|
| Use gym equipment | Choose the $2 adult daily fitness pass or an available membership. |
| Play basketball | Call the Open Play Line before visiting and check ID or youth form rules. |
| Enroll a child | Find an age-appropriate activity in RecLink and complete registration. |
| Host a party or meeting | Compare room capacity, rental charges and minimum reservation lead time. |
| Visit the playground | Use the park address, check posted access hours and supervise children. |
| Join the garden | Contact Raleigh Parks regarding community garden participation. |
Related Recreation Center Visitor Guides
These guides cover similar publicly operated recreation facilities and can help compare available services and visitor policies.
Compare gymnasium access, fitness activities and visitor requirements.
Explore another municipal recreation center with sports and family programs.
Compare fitness fees, facility access and room rental planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where is Barwell Community Center in Raleigh?
Barwell Road Community Center is located at 5857 Barwell Park Drive, Raleigh, NC 27610. The City facility phone number is 919-996-5994.
2. What are Barwell Road Community Center’s hours?
The regular hours are Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 9 PM, Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM and Sunday from 1 PM to 6 PM. Holiday and activity hours may differ.
3. Is Barwell Community Center free to enter?
Fees depend on the activity. The adult fitness room daily pass costs $2 according to Raleigh Parks. Recreation classes, special programs and room rentals have separate charges. Ask the center whether a fee applies to your planned visit.
4. Does Barwell Community Center have a gym?
Yes. The facility contains two air-conditioned indoor gymnasiums used for basketball, recreation activities, programs and approved rentals. Open-gym access depends on the current schedule.
5. How much does Barwell’s fitness room cost?
Raleigh Parks lists adult passes at $2 daily, $15 monthly and $150 annually. Teen monthly and annual passes are $15 and $150, with required orientation and adult supervision.
6. Can I rent Barwell Community Center for a party?
Yes. Classrooms, gymnasiums, a dance room, a multipurpose room and a warming kitchen are available for approved rentals. The current listed base rates range from $25 to $85 per hour depending on the space, with a two-hour minimum and additional applicable fees.
7. How early must I reserve a room at Barwell?
Raleigh’s current rental guidance allows requests no more than four months and no fewer than 14 days before the event. Requests are subject to approval, and the reservation is not final until payment is confirmed.
8. What programs are available for children at Barwell?
The center offers changing recreational activities. Published 2026 examples include preschool enrichment, tumbling, ballet and African dance. Use Raleigh RecLink to check current dates, ages, fees and registration availability.
9. Does Barwell Road Park have a playground?
Yes. The park has age-appropriate playgrounds and the Panther Play 60 Challenge course, featuring 11 climbing structures and a timed 40-yard dash area.
10. How can I check basketball open-gym availability?
Call Barwell’s Open Play Line at 919-996-6736 for the updated weekly schedule. Adult participants must follow government-issued ID rules, while children age 17 and under need the required annually completed youth open-play form.
Official Sources & Final Contact
City of Raleigh — Barwell Road Park and Community Center
City of Raleigh — Current Rental Rates and Guidelines
Raleigh Parks — Fitness Membership Passes
Raleigh RecLink — Activity Registration
Official Barwell Rental Information PDF
Official Open Gym Schedule PDF
Front Desk: 919-996-5994
Open Play: 919-996-6736
Email: Barwell.Road@raleighnc.gov
Fees, enrollment, weather closures, facility access and rental approvals are controlled by the City of Raleigh. This independent guide does not process bookings or payments.