The Wellness and Recreation Center Feasibility Study team visited the Dallas area on October 23rd and 24th to tour recreation facilities to provide inspiration and a better understanding of what works, what doesn’t work, and what would be good for Taylor. They visited five recreation centers in two days. The trip included the Council-appointed committee members – Jim Buzan, John Mathews, Quincy Griffin, John McDonald, and Julie Rydell, as well as City staff – Jeff Jenkins, Lisa Buzan, Tyler Bybee, Betsy Schultz, and Matt Topham.
- At the REC of Grapevine, they thought the fitness areas and classrooms were nice, but they were undersized. They liked all the lighting and storage, party rooms and community lockers.
- At the Lewisville THRIVE, the facility seemed to lack joy, lighting was inconsistent, areas felt disjointed and disconnected, and there were not enough fitness areas. They did like the event space and the walking track.
- At the Stephen G Terrell Recreation Center in Allen, they loved the community gym and multi-use turf, the wall art and the meeting rooms. The flow of the building made a lot of sense. They liked the fitness area, the court space, and the batting cages. The one big drawback was that it didn’t feel as much about the community at the REC of Grapevine.
- The Beacon in Arlington had a welcoming aspect and hometown feel. They did need more community space and senior space. The gym felt small. Otherwise, everything from the grade separated walking track to the weights and cardio equipment and the spray plaza contributed to a well-thought-out design. The music really kept the place feeling lively.
- Finally, the Epic in Grand Prairie was cold, uninviting, had abandoned areas and wasted space, the lobby was too big, and the exterior was not inviting.
In summary, the team thought the tours were well worth the investment. They were able to identify some key areas that need a focus in a proposed facility for Taylor and some items to avoid. The facility should be practical, it should emphasize efficiency, and it needs to be designed based on the community, and for all parts of the community. Lastly, it should be accessible to the entire community.
