Rec center reborn

The city has spent a lot of time and money improving the Tucumcari Recreation Center this year, and it decided last week to show it off the the public.

The city hosted an open house on Dec. 9 at the revamped facility - a former New Mexico National Guard armory - at 900 E. Laughlin Ave.

The city received a $2 million state recreation grant earlier this year and spent over half that renovating the building, city manager Paula Chacon said. Funds also were used to renovate the Little League fields.

The Tucumcari Recreation Center sports new carpeting and flooring, new paint and new plaster on the walls, plus new lighting throughout to make it brighter.

The game room contains a new work station in the corner so the director can keep an eye on things.

During a tour, Chacon showed the boys and girls bathrooms - which she said were once "awful" - that were gutted for new sinks, stalls and lighting.

Chacon showed off the renovated basketball gym with its new floor, scoreboards and heating and air-conditioning units.

She said another room contains several cardiovascular machines paid for with a grant from the McMullen Foundation.

"It's a difference," she said of the reborn facility. "What a difference."

Chacon also credited the center's director for the last two years, Bo Wallace, for his leadership.

"The remodel is almost done," Wallace said. "It's been a handful to deal with, but I think it's better for the community. I think it's going to be a real positive thing for the kids. I'm excited about it.

"There was a lot of work that went into it, from from planning and development, from City Hall, from here on this end, getting grants and going through all the construction process," he added. "I'm excited to see the turnaround from where it was two years ago to where it is now. We've had amazing outpouring from the people on how great it looks and how excited they are about the renovation."

Tucumcari resident Theresa Gallegos, who walked through the renovated center, said she remembered when it was in bad shape.

"It's fabulous. The floor is done. The walls are done. It has heaters that work," she said. "I'm going to be one of the ones to utilize the cardio room and the exercise room."

City Commissioner Jonathan Brito attended the open house.

"It's real nice in here ... a lot of improvements," he said. "It'll be exciting for the community."

Chacon said all but about $90,000 of the $2 million grant has been spent. She said the rest will be used to buy acoustic panels for the gym so it's not as noisy. New basketball goals will be arriving soon.

In addition to the state rec grant, the city spent about $96,000 from its general fund to remove asbestos from the facility, Chacon said.

The city also obtained a $500,000 federal Community Development Block Grant to replace the center's roof. Chacon said the current roof has been repaired, but a permanent fix is due to happen this spring.

The former armory and garage for the New Mexico National Guard was built as part of the Works Progress Administration.