Plano residents are eagerly anticipating the much-needed facelift of the Tom Muehlenbeck Recreation Center, with officials finally setting the wheels in motion for a July start on renovations. The overhaul, greenlit by voters as part of a hefty $364 million bond package almost three years back, promises to modernize and secure the facility for future generations to enjoy. According to an official state filing cited by the Dallas Express, the project is expected to wrap up by October 2025, and it won't just be a new coat of paint – improvements are set to span from fire, lighting, and sound systems to a new roof, a decked out pool area, and eco-friendly irrigation updates.
Bankrolled largely by Proposition C to the tune of nearly $16 million, the 88,000-square-foot project will thoroughly modernize this essential community hub. In addition to the nuts and bolts work, park-goers can look forward to a brighter, fresher environment with new parking lot lights and spruced-up interior paint and flooring. This proposition is just a single slice of the pie from the six approved by voters back in May 2021, targeting everything from street maintenance to public libraries. "The 2021 Bond Referendum focuses on renovation and maintenance of existing assets," the city's website was quoted by the Dallas Express.
With Proposition B claiming a nearly $82 million share, fourteen parks and recreation projects are set to benefit. Community and neighborhood parks are on deck for face-lifts, along with trail replacement, field lighting improvements, and athletic facility upgrades. But what's coming up at Tom Muehlenbeck Rec Center, located at 5801 West Parker Road, isn't just flash – it's substance, serving as home turf for the Plano West Senior High School swim and dive teams and providing a 25-yard indoor pool equipped with eight swim lanes and a one-meter diving board for aquatic aficionados.
Leading the charge on the design side is Dallas-based firm LPA, Inc., renowned for their work on projects such as CalAmp in Richardson and Berkadia in Dallas. As detailed in the state filing reviewed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the renovations promise to be extensive. To truly breathe new life into the space, they will include replacing the HVAC systems, re-roofing the facility, and installing new light fixtures. It's not just the functionality that's getting an update; aesthetics are on the agenda with finish replacements and revamps of lockers and showers for a more comfortable patron experience.
