The James A. Leach Aquatic & Recreation Center represents one of Hoke County’s most significant investments in recreation, wellness, youth development, and community connection. Located at 5215 Fayetteville Road in Raeford, the modern facility opened in May 2023 and was created to give Hoke County residents greater access to swimming, athletics, fitness programs, recreational activities, and gathering spaces without having to travel outside the county. The approximately 53,000-square-foot complex features an eight-lane, 25-yard competition swimming pool, a separate recreation pool with zero-entry access and spray features, a waterslide, a gymnasium, walking and running areas, multipurpose rooms, locker facilities, spectator seating, and offices for Hoke County Parks and Recreation. The competition pool also provides an important home for organized swimming, including opportunities for local students and athletes to practice and compete within their own community.

The center carries the name of longtime Hoke County Commissioner James A. Leach, recognizing decades of public service and his involvement in projects intended to improve the quality of life for Hoke County residents. When county commissioners announced the naming of the facility in 2020, fellow commissioners highlighted Leach’s service to children, families, schools, and community development, while Leach emphasized that the recreation center was ultimately being built for the citizens of Hoke County. Today, the James A. Leach Aquatic & Recreation Center serves as more than an impressive public building because it represents Hoke County’s continuing investment in healthier families, stronger neighborhoods, recreational opportunities for young people, and spaces where residents of different generations can come together. With additional initiatives such as the planned Hoke Walks trail system behind the center, the surrounding area has the potential to become an even greater recreational destination and community gathering place for Hoke County in the years ahead.