Jen Nelsen keeps DI Rec Center active and connected to community

Walk into the Daniel Island Recreation Center on any given day, and chances are the first person you’ll see is Jen Nelsen welcoming a family, fielding phone calls, or cheering on a fitness team.

 

Since its opening at Governors Park in 2021, Nelsen has been the face of the recreation center, guiding the day-to-day operations with a whole lot of know-how.

 

Make no mistake; she’s no newcomer.

 

The facility manager is a veteran in the field of recreation and recently celebrated a milestone with the City of Charleston.

 

“I just received my 15-year pin from the city, and it is crazy to think how fast time has flown by!” Nelsen said. 

 

Originally from Rochester, Minnesota, Nelsen’s journey to the Lowcountry began as an intern at the Naval Weapons Station after graduating from Winona State University in her home state.

 

“I have loved sports since I was young and begged my parents to sign me up for activities each season. I was an avid soccer player and started playing rugby in college. That’s when I realized I could turn that passion into a career.”

 

Nelsen began working as a part-timer on Daniel Island in 2010 and steadily moved up the ranks, bouncing around Charleston in different roles ranging from youth sports to adult leagues. Returning to Daniel Island always felt like home.

 

“I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to come back to Daniel Island when the coordinator role became available running athletics,” she said. “I was in that role for seven years before the rec center was slated to open, and I was eager to step into something new and outside of my comfort zone.”

 

Opening the state-of-the-art recreation center in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic was no small task. “For the first few months, our hours were limited as we worked diligently to hire staff,” she recalled. “We were balancing hiring as well as making new connections to bring in programming and getting feedback from the community about what they wanted to see.”

 

That feedback led to some of the center’s signature offerings, like the annual Holiday Market in the fall and the Fine Art Show each spring. Longtime instructors such as Teresa Donohue (yoga) and Natasha Nova (Lego and robotics) joined the team from Day One and still lead packed classes today.

 

The Daniel Island Recreation Center is a buzzing hub of activity seven days a week, offering everything from open gym and pickleball to senior fitness, toddler events, and kids night out.

 

“The great thing about my role is the variety,” Nelsen said. “Depending on the season, I can be watching an end-of-season show from Shining Stars Theater, behind the front desk taking phone calls, or helping set up our classes. Every day looks a little different.”

 

Some of the most popular programs?

 

“Our senior fitness classes are huge,” she said. “Erica Nicoli and Aimee Henderson have done a fantastic job of creating an inclusive community where people feel welcome. We see 35 to 40 participants in each class.”

 

The center also offers art classes, ballet, dance, cheerleading, chess, sports clinics, and special events like the Hanukkah Celebration, Toddler Time Easter Egg Hunt, and Special Olympics basketball.

 

“We’ve worked hard to keep a diverse schedule of offerings so that there is something for everyone,” Nelsen said. “Even better is when the community shares their talents with us. Anyone interested in teaching something new can submit a program proposal at the front desk.”

 

As for her favorite part of the recreation center? 

 

“The people, for sure. The people that come in and use the facility, sign up for programs, rent rooms for parties – they’re what make this place special.”

 

Outside of work, Nelsen still lives and breathes recreation. She plays in the Charleston Soccer League’s women’s league and is entering her third year as the assistant coach for The Citadel Women’s Rugby team. “When I’m not doing those things, I enjoy taking my two dogs to the dog park,” she said.

 

As far as the future of the recreation center, Nelsen remains focused on growth. “We want to continue to evolve along with the community. We’ll keep our staple programs, but we’re always looking for new, fresh ideas – not only for the building, but for our parks and playgrounds as well.”