Denae Greenly-Elliott, MSOL, PHR, SHRM-CP’s Post

The City of DeSoto broke ground this morning for a 74,000 square foot Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC) which will become the central hub for DeSoto’s Curtistene S. McCowan Park and a citywide venue for fitness and multigenerational recreation. This $53 million project represents a major milestone in the life of DeSoto and is welcome addition that has been the subject of active community engagement and discussion for more than a decade.   DeSoto’s new “ARC” is one of the key components for the City of DeSoto’s Parks Master Plan and will anchor the broader park complex. It will include a full-scale indoor competition pool accompanied by observation decks on the second level to allow for competitive swimming events. A 400-foot fitness track for cardio workouts will be suspended above the facility’s first level. There will be a fully equipped fitness area including a leisure pool, gyms, strength training equipment, meeting rooms, and a social gathering space allowing for group activities such as basketball, volleyball, & pickleball. And with the grounds of McCowan Park surrounding it, the entire area will be transformed into a multi-sport layout experience that will stand out in a region already known for athleticism.  McCowan Park is named for DeSoto’s 21st Mayor, Curtistene S. McCowan, who died in office in late 2020. McCowan was DeSoto’s first female Mayor and served from 2016 until her death. She served on the DeSoto City Council from 2012 to 2016 and was Mayor Pro Tem from 2014 to 2016. In 1990 McCowan was elected to a DeSoto ISD Board of Trustees seat, making her the first African American in DeSoto to be elected to a public office.   The project is being designed by the Smith Group of Dallas and competition is anticipated in January 2026.