The big picture
The new enrichment and recreation center is nearing completion and is expected to open to the public in early 2026, Mike Cantu, assistant director of recreation operations for the city, said. The center will replace the city’s existing Oscar Johnson Jr. facility and expand amenities for residents of all ages.
The center features two full-size basketball gymnasiums that can also be converted into six pickleball courts, and will have more than 30 weekly group fitness classes and a dedicated cycling room with 25 bikes, Cantu said.
It also has a full fitness center, including free weights, machines and cardio equipment and a women-only workout space. Additional features include a three-lane walking track, a children’s “kid zone” for ages 6 months to 8 years, as well as senior programming.
The facility will also house city programs such as after-school care and the summer day camp program Camp Fun Quest, Cantu said. A full-size banquet hall with capacity for up to 300 people, which can be divided into smaller meeting rooms, will be available for rentals, along with a catering kitchen.
Cantu said the new facility has been years in the making.
“There’s nothing like it that the city of Conroe has right now,” Cantu said. “It was developed for the community to use, whether you’re 6 months old or 99 years old.”
How we got here
Plans for a new community center began with a feasibility study in 2014, as previously reported.
City officials broke ground on the new center in July 2023, highlighting its expanded space and services for youth, seniors and community programs.
What’s next
The center is located at 710 Foster Drive, Conroe. City officials are targeting Jan. 1, 2026, for the grand opening, pending final preparations and equipment deliveries.
