The city of Roanoke Rapids will dedicate the aquatic center and name it after former parks and recreation Director Chris Wicker on May 13. 

The dedication will be held at 10 a.m. on that date in front of the center, which is located at 500 East Sixth Street.

“We encourage the community to join us at this dedication ceremony to honor Chris Wicker, who worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Roanoke Rapids,” the department said.

Refreshments will be served following the dedication ceremony.

In November the city council approved renaming The Roanoke Rapids Aquatic Center after Wicker, who retired in 2009.

The resolution to name the center after Wicker came after current parks and recreation Director John Simeon and Councilwoman Sandra Bryant received requests to dedicate the facility in his honor.

A memo at the time of the November meeting said, “One of Wicker’s top accomplishments, the Aquatic Center, built in 1992, has been instrumental for senior arthritis classes, swim lessons, and competitive swim meets.” 

Simeon told the council at the time, “Under Chris’s vision and leadership the aquatic center was built in 1992. It is an Olympic-size pool that has between 15,000 and 20,000 contacts per year coming through the doors.”