Architectural visualization by GALPAZ Architecture & Engineering LTD
2026
Public spaces have the power to shape the character of a neighborhood. They become places where children gain confidence, young people find purpose, families spend time together, and communities grow stronger through everyday encounters. The Jerusalem Foundation’s vision for East Jerusalem recognizes that investing in this kind of civic infrastructure is an investment not only in recreation, but in the long-term vitality and resilience of the city itself.
Jerusalem is home to at least fifteen public swimming centers spread across the city, with additional facilities planned in various neighborhoods. Yet none are located in East Jerusalem. For hundreds of thousands of residents, access to these spaces—so central to urban life elsewhere in the city—remains limited, often requiring long travel times and navigating social and geographic barriers. The absence is not only physical, but civic, reflecting a broader gap in shared infrastructure and opportunity.
Community sports, fitness, and swimming centers are more than recreational amenities. They function as anchors of everyday life, places where routine and encounter intersect. Children learn to swim, teenagers gather after school, families spend time together, and informal networks take shape. Such spaces have been shown to contribute to improved public health, stronger social cohesion, and increased civic engagement, while also offering structured environments that can help reduce antisocial behavior.
The Jerusalem Foundation has identified this gap as a priority within its vision for the future, seeking to expand access to high-quality public spaces across all parts of the city. The planned establishment of community sports, fitness, and swimming centers in East Jerusalem reflects both a practical need and a broader commitment to civic equality. It is an effort to ensure that residents across the city can take part in the same basic opportunities for health, leisure, and community life.
The first of these centers is in Beit Hanina, a large neighborhood in northern East Jerusalem, approximately eight kilometers from the city center and stretching over roughly 1,500 acres. Home to more than 35,000 residents, the area is defined by a young population, with over half under the age of twenty-five. Around ninety percent of residents are Muslim and ten percent are Christian. The neighborhood is supported by active and committed local leadership, as well as existing educational, social, and community frameworks that serve a wider population of approximately 55,000 people in the surrounding area. Despite this, there are currently no swimming or sports facilities available locally.
Designed as an ambitious, state-of-the-art complex of approximately 3,600 square meters, the center, set to open in August 2026, includes a fully equipped indoor sports, fitness, and swimming facility. Future stages envision a broader campus, with a sports hall, outdoor courts, activity spaces for youth and the elderly, and an office building with income-generating commercial space, alongside adequate parking. Its location adjacent to the Jerusalem Light Rail makes it highly accessible, positioning it as a central meeting point for the surrounding community. The complex has been designed according to Israel’s latest green building standards, combining contemporary sustainable construction with references to local architectural forms.
A second center is envisioned for Sur Baher, in southern Jerusalem, a neighborhood characterized by lower socio-economic indicators but with existing infrastructure that can support and complement the new development. Local schools and a community center already serve residents, creating a strong foundation upon which the new sports center can build. As in Beit Hanina, the aim is not only to provide facilities, but to create a place that becomes part of daily life—one that draws people in, supports regular activity, and strengthens community ties over time. With all plans and permits secured, the Foundation is working on securing funding for the important project.
Together, these initiatives respond to a clear and longstanding need. By extending access to sports, fitness, and swimming facilities into East Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Foundation is working to close a significant gap in the city’s public infrastructure. In doing so, it is helping to create more equal conditions for health, recreation, and community life, ensuring that more residents can take part in the shared spaces that support a stronger and more connected Jerusalem.
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