Clayton NC is moving forward on a significant new amenity for residents of every age: a town-owned community recreational facility taking shape at 1370 Cameron Way, the former Clayton Fitness building. Exactly one year after the Town Council voted to buy the building, staff are refining the plans for an intergenerational facility, and they want public input at an open house on Wednesday, October 29, 2026. For families considering a home like 297 Bonaventure Dr in gated Portofino, this is another sign that Clayton keeps investing in the places where families actually spend their time.
What Is the Community Recreational Facility?
The project converts the former Clayton Fitness building on Cameron Way into a Town of Clayton community recreational facility. The Town Council voted in October 2025 to buy the building for $3 million, with $1 million of that covered by a state grant secured through the NC Office of State Budget and Management with help from NC Rep. Donna White and NC Sen. Benton Sawrey. The vision is an intergenerational facility: expanded programming for seniors combined with fitness and wellness options for every age group.
That mix is not an accident. The Town's 2024 Parks and Recreation Master Plan identified expanded indoor senior and intergenerational programming as a real need in Clayton, and this building was chosen specifically to answer it. Instead of renting space for classes and gatherings, the town gets a permanent, year-round home for them.
Why This Fills a Gap in Clayton's Recreation
Clayton's outdoor recreation scene has grown fast, but the town's master plan flagged a shortage of indoor space for senior and intergenerational programming. The new facility is designed to answer exactly that: a weather-proof, year-round home for fitness classes, wellness programs, and gatherings that bring multiple generations together. In a town that keeps adding parks, trails, and community activities, this building gives indoor recreation a permanent town-owned home instead of a patchwork of temporary arrangements.
The October 29 Open House: Your Chance to Weigh In
The key date to put on the calendar is Wednesday, October 29, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the building, 1370 Cameron Way in Clayton. The town is inviting residents to review the plans under development, share what they want from the facility, and help shape the programming and design as the project moves forward. It is an open-house format, so residents can drop in anytime during those hours. When the purchase was announced a year ago, town staff targeted opening the renovated facility by the end of 2026, which makes this fall the window where community input can still shape what the facility becomes.
How It Fits the Recreation Scene Around Portofino
Portofino already packs an outdoor recreation roster behind its gates: two resort-style pools, 7-plus miles of nature and riding trails, clubhouses, and a full equestrian center. Just outside the gate, the recreation map keeps growing. The Johnston County Regional Park opened in July at 444 Matthews Road with pickleball courts, basketball, a stocked fishing pond, and a picnic shelter, with more phases planned. The new community recreational facility adds the indoor, all-ages piece, roughly a 10-minute drive from the Portofino gate down US 70 Business. Together they give a Clayton family a complete recreation ecosystem without a trip to Raleigh.
What It Means for 297 Bonaventure Dr and Portofino Buyers
Community investment like this matters for both home values and everyday life. Town facilities that serve every generation make a neighborhood more attractive to buyers and more livable for residents once they arrive. At 297 Bonaventure Dr, the private office, the chef's kitchen, the upstairs loft, and the screened-in porch on the wooded half-acre are complemented by a community where recreation options keep multiplying. The Portofino amenity guide walks through what is already on site, and the Regional Park and Clayton development pipeline show what is coming.
If you are touring Portofino this fall, you can make the open house part of the plan: swing by 1370 Cameron Way to see the town's vision for the new facility, then drive over to see the home itself in the same afternoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will the new community recreational facility be located?
At 1370 Cameron Way in Clayton, the former Clayton Fitness building. The Town Council voted in October 2025 to purchase it for $3 million, with $1 million in state grant support.
What will the facility include?
The town is planning an intergenerational community facility: expanded programming for seniors plus fitness and wellness activities for all ages, addressing a need identified in the 2024 Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
When is the open house, and how can I give input?
Wednesday, October 29, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 1370 Cameron Way. Residents can review the plans under development and share feedback to help shape the programming and design. It is an open-house format, so drop by any time during those hours.
How close is the facility to Portofino and 297 Bonaventure Dr?
About 10 minutes from the Portofino gate down US 70 Business. That makes the facility realistic for daily fitness use, not just an occasional visit.
Why does this matter for home value in Portofino?
Town investment in amenities that serve all ages strengthens a community's appeal and supports long-term demand. Combined with Portofino's own pools, trails, clubhouses, and equestrian center, a new indoor community facility extends the lifestyle case for the neighborhood.
Clayton's recreation outlook keeps improving, and the homes that put you closest to it are limited. If you want to see what 297 Bonaventure Dr offers, schedule a private tour with Phil Slezak, or book a consultation to talk through the community and the market together.
Schedule a tour of 297 Bonaventure Dr with Phil Slezak, or book a consultation online. Call 919-899-2320 to talk through the latest market details.
Phil leads one of the top-producing real estate teams in the Greater Triangle and Brunswick County areas, with over $200 million in sales and a growing footprint across North Carolina.