With summer drawing near, the City of Conway proudly announces it is close to completing the Conway Community Center. The center is located on the old airport property south of 6th Street. The project was first voted on and approved by the people of Conway in a special election held in February 2022.  

The facility spans over 130,000 square feet and will include an eight-lane pool, fitness center, eight volleyball courts, 12 indoor pickleball courts, private rooms, a cafe, a community lounge and an extensive outdoor pool area. The complex will expand Conway’s recreational options, creating a safe athletic space and a welcoming place for all. 

The Spokesperson for the City of Conway, Bobby Kelly said, “By adding 8 volleyball courts, 12 pickleball courts, competition pools, we’re hoping that that kind of further solidifies Conway’s place as the youth sports capital of Arkansas… both at the recreational level and competitive level.”

In a previous interview, the Director of the Conway Community Center, Jamie Brice said, “The Center will focus on providing a place for the community with high quality, diverse and accessible programs, recreations, services and facilities that exchange the quality of life for all ages, abilities and backgrounds.”

The center, “will serve as a hub for connectivity and community,” Kelly said. 

The project is set to be completed by the Summer of 2025 but will begin taking membership applications in late Spring. 

Conway also announced the membership rates for the center.

“The budget has been thought about throughout this entire process… the construction of it, how much it was going to cost,”  Kelly said. “To make sure at the end of the day, no matter what we do, we don’t forget that this is for the kids, and it needs to be accessible.”

The Community Center will offer four types of memberships: Adult, Youth, Senior and Family. The prices range from $7.00 for an adult daily pass to the most expensive belonging to the annual family membership priced at $660.00. The Center will offer discounts for both Youth and Senior memberships. All memberships include access to the indoor and outdoor swimming amenities, sports courts and fitness center. 

The value the Community Center brings to the table goes beyond increased relaxation and connectivity. 

“The Community Center will support the economy in multiple ways including but not limited to: an estimated 17 full-time positions, 100 part-time positions. The center will bring many people to the community for volleyball tournaments and swim meets – increasing A&P tax,” Brice said.

“The center should also increase surrounding property values,” Brice said.

As construction continues, the Conway Community Center inches closer to becoming a go-to spot for the community. 

“Conway doesn’t have, aside from outdoor parks like Martin Luther King Junior Square, Pompe Park… a place to simply exist, hopeful with good vibes and an affordable and accessible public space,” Kelly said. 

A future goal for the project is to connect to the Greenway Trail, further reinforcing Conway’s desire for connectivity and accessibility. 

The large-scale project will require extensive collaboration and elbow grease, but Kelly is confident the end results will be worth the wait. The idea for a community space of this size has been a longtime goal of the city, which is finally coming to fruition. Kelly said, “It’s been a long time coming. The conversation has been going on and dates back to the 1970s about having a public, accessible and affordable pool.”

The summer is approaching, which Kelly said means “the day is on the horizon.”