Marcus Jewish Community Center Opens New Aquatic Center

Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta opened the new Zalik Outdoor Aquatic Center on June 23. The new construction includes several swimming pools and a water park.

“We are excited to unveil the Zalik Outdoor Aquatic Center to the community,” MJCCA CEO Jared Powers said in a statement released by the organization. “This facility represents our commitment to providing a top-notch, fun, safe and inclusive environment for families and friends to come together.”

Not far behind is the June 26 grand opening of the center’s new pickleball facility, the Eva G. Lipman Pickleball Complex, which features eight covered courts with a rain-protective covering for play in any weather , as well as four additional open fields.

The complex will also house Cadranel’s Corner, a cafe with large social and viewing areas, multiple seating areas and televisions. The complex includes the new Zaban Family Sports Pavilion, a large indoor multi-sport field equipped with high-efficiency fans.

Last March, MJCCA announced the launch of the fundraising campaign at its annual board meeting. According to a press release, approximately $20.5 million from the capital campaign was to be invested at the Zaban Park Campus, MJCCA’s main campus in Dunwoody. About $9.7 million was allocated to Camp Barney Medintz, the organization’s overnight summer camp in Cleveland, Georgia.

Residents living near the proposed pickleball courts had expressed concerns at a May 2023 city council meeting about potential noise and light pollution. At a council meeting a month later, they indicated their concerns had been addressed to their satisfaction.

MJCCA recently announced that it had exceeded its capital campaign goal, securing $36.4 million through donor contributions and community support, following the campaign’s launch in March 2023.

“This historic achievement underscores MJCCA’s central role in the Atlanta metropolitan area and paves the way for substantial facility improvements and the introduction of groundbreaking programs,” the statement said.

Other improvements include the installation of turf at London Feldman Field which has been converted to a premium turf field, a new parking lot and numerous security improvements.

At Camp Barney Medintz, new structures were constructed including cabins, bathrooms, a dining hall expansion, and an adult housing structure.