Tomball and Magnolia residents will have options closer to home
Plans are moving forward for the first public recreation center in Magnolia. In Tomball, a number of small park projects are planned for the spring, while progress on a proposed BMX park has stalled. In addition to public facilities, a new privately owned baseball field in Magnolia will be available for part-time community use starting in April.
Magnolia recreation center
For Magnolia residents, the nearest public pool is in Tomball and the closest tennis courts are in The Woodlands. The Magnolia Community Foundation hopes to change that through its capital campaign to bring an Olympic-sized pool, tennis courts and a 15,000-square-foot recreation center to Unity Park.
In 2012, MCF plans to concentrate on raising $1.5 million to fund the pool and tennis courts with a goal of breaking ground on both in 2013.
“Not only will the new facilities bring an economic value to the community through bringing in tourist dollars, but there’s also a community quality of life value,” said MCF president Deborah Rose Miller.
In December, the Gullo family contributed $250,000 for naming rights for the future Gullo Family Tennis Center. The four tennis courts will include two Quickstart courts, which are smaller sized courts for 10-and-under tennis. In January, the U.S. Tennis Association mandated that all youth competitions take place on Quickstart courts; games played on larger courts will not be recognized by the association.
“There’s not many of those around the Houston area, so this will be somewhat unique to Magnolia,” said Randy Ortwein, president of the Houston Tennis Association and a member of MCF’s capital campaign committee.
The courts will also be wheelchair accessible, according to Ortwein.
“We want to make sure disabled members of Magnolia and surrounding communities know these will be their courts as well,” he said.
Miller said having both of these specifications will open up opportunities to host tennis competitions.
“It’s not just beneficial to residents to have first-class amenities,” she said. “Being able to support and cater to the [competition] market will bring tourist dollars in because people coming for competitions will spend money at local businesses.”
According to Miller, $1 million needs to be pledged in order to start construction on the pool and tennis courts.
“No contribution is too small,” she said. “I love the YMCA slogan, ‘A few will give thousands and thousands will give a few.’ That’s what’s going to make this work.”
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