Brookline's Eliot Recreation Center at 133 Eliot St. closed Thursday, Sept. 3, for an internal renovation expected to last through the end of the year.
The building is fully shut to the public to allow contractors to work safely. All programs previously scheduled at the Eliot Center are being relocated, and families affected will be notified directly with new locations, according to the town's announcement. Families who cannot make an alternative site work will receive a full refund.
Playgrounds and fields at Warren Park stay open.
What's getting fixed
Funded by the town's FY26 Capital Improvement Project budget, the renovation will add a dedicated meeting and conference room, update all four staff and public restrooms, and replace office furniture, carpet, technology and electrical systems. The scope also includes repainting. The work follows recent exterior upgrades, including a new roof and a rebuilt ground-level classroom.
No project cost has been released.
Where to find Recreation staff
The Recreation Department's administrative offices have moved to the Brookline Environmental Education Center (BEEC) at 652 Hammond St. for the duration. Hours there are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays are by appointment only; call 617-730-2069 to schedule.
Registration and reservations remain available online at BrooklineRec.com. Staff contacts are listed on the Recreation Directory webpage.
Indoor restrooms at the Eliot Center are closed, but portable units have been placed on-site for park visitors.
Capital investment context
Recreation Director Tim Davis and Assistant Director Aaron Friedman, in a September 2025 department newsletter, called the town's commitment to its Recreation Department "a major factor in our decision to return," citing "sustained capital improvements" among the reasons they chose to lead the department.
The Eliot Center renovation is the latest project in that capital pipeline. The town has not announced a specific reopening date, saying only that the work is scheduled to wrap by year's end.
