Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Flower Mound opens doors to new community activity center Saturday, with grand opening June 21

By Minnie Payne

Flower Mound Community Activity Center

FLOWER MOUND — Jason Brown, Flower Mound Community Activity Center Manager, led an exclusive media tour of the center on Monday and to say the least, we were all impressed.

He started with the “chill zone” room which is a room where one can play billiards, air hockey, stick hockey and there is a giant screen where family-friendly movies will be shown. The room was designed for teens, but will be open to all ages.

Then there’s a multi-purpose room with an adjoining kitchen where such events as parties, receptions and meetings can be held. This room can be rented for as little as $40 per hour.

The “tot drop” is for children at least six months old and not older than nine years old. Fees are $2 for every two hours, or a 20-visit punch card for $1.50 per visit.

The huge gym will be divided with a drop-down divider, with one section being utilized for programmed events and one section being used for free play.

There are locker rooms where lockers can be used daily by customers or rented for a fee of $10 per month.

The fantastic indoor pool is an eight-lane 25 meter by 25 yard competition pool with a large shallow area to be used for open swim time, swim lessons, aquatic exercise, diving area, two-story tube slide and splash pad. The outdoor pool will feature zero depth entry, shallow area with play features, three lap lanes, long-winding current channel, vortex whirlpool and two – two-story tube slides. Lifeguards at the outside pool will number 10 to 12 and four to six lifeguards will be stationed at the inside pool. There is a lifeguard and first aid room.

The fitness room features a dozen different equipment usages, plus group exercise classes. There is a three-lane jogging track surrounding the fitness room.

Seniors can gather in the “Golden Lounge” for various activities and refreshments.

The Town of Flower Mound broke ground for its new community activity center at 1200 Gerault Road on Jan. 6, 2007, and will open its doors to charter members on Saturday, with a grand opening being held on June 21.

“Our goal was to open summer 2008,” said Tony Nielsen, Town of Flower Mound Park Development Manager. “We’re right on schedule.”

According to Bob Snelling, senior project manager for builders Ratcliff Constructors, the original contract price for the center was $13.825 million.

Ratcliff Constructors, L.P., offices out of Dallas, but Ratcliff President Max Young resides in Flower Mound. Jacobs Facilities in Dallas is the architectural firm.

“The center was a bond election item, with the election being held in 2002,” said Nielson. “I believe the goal for recovery of the funds from admission fees is 55 percent.”

Snelling said that there is a minimum two-year warranty on all parts of the building, with some electrical machines having multiple years of guarantee. Ground cover and small plant landscaping has a one-year warranty, with trees having a two-year warranty.

Chuck Jennings, Town of Flower Mound Recreation Superintendent, said he hired seven full-time staff members to help operate the building and part-time summer staff should be upward of between 100 to 110 employees. Part-time staff outside of summer will be about 30 to 40 people.

Jason Brown, Community Activity Center Manager, said that before being hired to manage the facility in Flower Mound, he helped manage a recreation center in Lancaster.

“I most recently helped manage a city facility in Keller,” he said.

Brown earned his undergraduate degree in kinesiology from Texas A&M in 1997 and his master’s degree from the University of North Texas in 2002, specializing in Health and Fitness Management.

According to Brown, there is still time to join the community activity center as a charter member and receive 14 months for the price of 12. Memberships are available at the community activity center.

“This is an absolutely fantastic community building,” said Flower Mound Mayor Jody Smith. “It will be a great asset to our town and a place where folks of all ages can come to relax and have fun.”

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