An aerial shot of construction taken in December shows the footprint of the facility.[/caption]

City officials broke ground July 20, 2015 on a long awaited aquatics and fitness center at Gabe Nesbitt Park, 7001 Eldorado Parkway.

The center is on schedule for a late 2016 completion date as crews recently wrapped site utility testing, and erection of building steel began at the end of December once fire lane installation was complete.

The facility will include a gymnasium, sports courts with an elevated track, fitness areas, an indoor 25-meter competition pool, and indoor and outdoor leisure pools with 10,000 total square feet
of surface water.

The center has been part of the city’s plans since 2006 when discussions first began.

The $34.5 million aquatic and fitness center will consist of 80,000 square feet and is being paid for in part by funds from the McKinney Community Development Corp. and the McKinney Economic Development Corp. and the city of McKinney.

This will be the first aquatic center on the west side of McKinney.

The city has two other aquatic centers, both located east of US 75.