From the cover
Parks and recreation
BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
Center timeline
How we got here
What you need to know
2014: A city feasibility study agged rising demand at the Oscar Johnson Jr. center and recommended July 13, 2023: A groundbreaking is held for the new Oscar Johnson Jr. Community Center. Sept. 9, 2025: City hosts a ribbon-cutting/ rst look event at the new center; ocials said it was nearing completion. Jan. 20, 2026: The center opens to the public, and ocials complete sta transition. expansion planning.
2014
December 2021: $35 million in funding for the new center is approved.
Per a follow-up 2018 feasibility study, the new center started as a question: How can the city build a community center that keeps youth pro- grams intact while also serving adults and seniors? The master plan envisioned a 25-acre campus with trails, workout stations and picnic shelters. The study recommended a new campus built to do ve things: maintain existing programs, expand to more participants, invest in southeast Conroe, capture demand for activities and provide space for residents who face access barriers or are not well-served by private options.
Conroe’s Oscar Johnson Jr. Enrichment & Recreation Center made its public debut Jan. 20—bringing a signi cantly larger footprint and a broader menu of programs to Conroe’s east side. The new two-story facility spans 86,974 square feet on 22 acres at 710 Forest Drive, Conroe, and replaces the existing center, according to the city website. The center is set to become Conroe’s newest major recreation hub. Inside, there are two full-size basketball courts that convert into six pickleball courts, weekly group tness classes and a cycling room, said Mike Cantu, assistant director of recreation operations. Cantu said the center also includes a tness area with free weights, machines, cardio equipment and a women-only workout space. Additional amenities include a kids zone for ages 6 months to 8 years and expanded senior programming. The facility also has event space and areas for youth programs, per the city’s website.
2021
2022
Aug. 28, 2025: City Council renames the facility and approves four new sta positions to support expanded operations at the new 87,000-square- foot facility. Oct. 15, 2025: City Council approves $154,445 for fencing upgrades funded through the project’s construction fund, per city sta.
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Oscar Johnson Jr. Enrichment & Recreation Center
NICHAELA SHAHEEN COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: CITY OF CONROE COMMUNITY IMPACT
Center at a glance Size: 86,974 square feet on 22 acres Grand opening: Jan. 20 Key spaces:
Also of note
day,” fund. The city is also accepting bids for playground equipment, a play structure for children ages 5-12, with proposals due Feb. 5, according to HigherGov. The center is funded through debt, which is around $35 million, Chief Financial O cer Ariel Khanh Gibbs said in a Nov. 18 email interview. City o cials said these steps were part of nal preparations to shift sta and youth programs.
As the city readied the building for daily use, the council continued approving nishing work tied to safety and move-in logistics. In October, Conroe City Council approved a $154,445 contract for perimeter fencing with Telchow Construction LLC, funded through the center’s construction fund, Deputy City Administrator Nancy Mikeska said. Council also approved a $322,052 furniture con- tract with L&M Furniture Co., which Mikeska said would be paid from the city’s reserve, or “rainy
Gyms
Fitness center
Track
Kid zone
Group tness/ cycling
SOURCE: CITY OF CONROE COMMUNITY IMPACT
Center membership prices
Stay tuned
Membership type Resident (ages 3-59)
Price
$30/month $21/month $60/month $40/month
The center is available to both residents and nonresidents. Community Impact reached out to Conroe City Administrator Gary Scott and Nancy Mikeska, deputy city administrator and director of community development, for comment, but did not hear back prior to press time.
The 2018 report frames the campus as a phased development, starting with initial site work and a new community center, then adding additional park amenities over time. Later phases, which have no clear timeline, propose elements such as a splash pad, sports pavilion, open-play eld, sand volleyball and a public pool.
Resident senior (age 60+) Resident household plan (4) Nonresident (ages 3-59)
Nonresident senior (age 60+) $28/month Nonresident household plan (4) $80/month Day pass $10/day
SOURCE: CITY OF CONROE COMMUNITY IMPACT
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CONROE MONTGOMERY EDITION
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