Construction Of The $3.6 Million McGuire-Dent Recreation Center Has Begun
The new center will replace the old recreation center at Menard Park and provide recreational opportunities for children, adults and senior citizens.

After rescheduling the groundbreaking of the new McGuire-Dent Recreation Center due to the recent rainy days, construction crews have finally begun work on the new center. The new center will replace the old recreation center at Menard Park and provide recreational opportunities for children, adults and senior citizens.

The Menard Park area, located along the Galveston Seawall, is considered by most to be the community’s flagship recreational area. Over the years, generations of Galvestonians have gathered at this site for activities ranging from musical concerts to family picnics, parades to tennis lessons. The years of heavy use, combined with the effects of weather, have taken their toll on the park’s facilities. Recent improvements, including new playground equipment as well as new fencing and lights for the Scoggins-Stiglich tennis courts, will dovetail with the addition of the new multimillion-dollar recreation center.

Several years ago, the existing recreation center was demolished after the city learned of the building’s unsafe structural conditions. At the time of its demolition, the City Council and members of the community had already begun discussions to replace the center with a new multifaceted community/recreation facility. They envisioned providing a building that would enhance the park and offer a wide range of activities. City leaders foresee the new recreation center becoming a hub for the community, similar to the Wright-Cuney Recreation Center north of Broadway.

The 25,196 square foot multipurpose recreation center will offer amenities including a full-service basketball court complete with scoreboards, bleachers, and dividers. The building will also house two racquetball courts; a full-service fitness center; locker room and shower facilities; game rooms; a computer room; and administration offices for the parks and recreation department. Looking even further into the future, there is room for the center to expand as well as the addition of a planned skateboard area at Menard Park.

After going out for bid, the City awarded the $3,653,325 contract to Jamail & Smith Construction. Designed by Bob Randall of Randall-Porterfield Architects, Inc., the McGuire-Dent Recreation Center will not only suit the existing neighborhood, the building will be LEED certified, a first for the city.  Architect Randall Davis said the building was designed to be LEED certified, a rating system that evaluates environmental friendliness. Davis plans to use low-emission paints, sealers and compounds during construction. The building also will reduce electricity and water consumption. Construction is expected to take almost a year to complete. Underground rainwater collection tanks will help reduce storm-water runoff.

City staff assured the council they would find the funds to cover $551,000 in extras between now and next summer when the center opens. The city has another four years to come up with the $300,000 needed to restore the park's band shell.

City officials planned to demolish the 50-year-old structure, but the Texas Historical Commission demanded it be restored. The state agency was able to exert its influence because the city plans to use about $600,000 in federal grant money for the recreation center project.
 
The building's west side, which will run parallel to 28th Street, will include a bus terminal drop-off to help make the facility accessible to Island Transit riders.