Construction is well under way on the indoor pool area at the new Green Ridge Recreation Center in Roanoke County. The facility also will have an outdoor pool.

Jeanna Duerscherl | The Roanoke Times

Even though you can't take a dip yet in the Splash Valley aquatic center or hit the treadmill in the Green Ridge Recreation Center, in a few days you will be able to buy a membership for them.

Beginning Aug. 3, those purchasing advance memberships to the new North Roanoke County facility get a gym bag, T-shirt, water bottle, a 10 percent discount on fall program fees and entry into a drawing for a free one-year membership.

The facility is scheduled to open the first week of January 2010.

A series of Web pages -- found at roanokecountyva.gov -- detail the planned offerings at the rec center, now estimated to be about 60 percent complete, according to Pete Haislip, director of parks, recreation and tourism.

Although anyone will be able to use the facilities by paying a daily rate, regular users can realize savings by joining a month-to-month plan for unlimited use of the recreation center and its indoor aquatic center. A slightly higher monthly fee, and a required one-year commitment, adds unlimited admission to the outdoor Splash Valley during the summer season.

Neither plan requires a joining or initiation fee.

Nonresidents of Roanoke County will pay slightly higher rates, but will be able to buy the same memberships as residents.

Participants in recreation department programs -- such as karate, arts and crafts, or swimming lessons -- will not have to purchase memberships to participate in those programs, Haislip said.

He said his goal is to have 500 membership units sold by the time the center opens. A unit may be an individual, couple or family. Advance sign-ups are available by paying the first month's fee. Additional payments won't begin until February 2010.

Information on memberships is available on the Web site or by calling 387-6078, Ext. 0.