Uniting Generations Through Shared Community Recreation Space

For more than a decade, residents of DeSoto, Texas, envisioned a multigenerational recreation and indoor aquatics center that would serve the community’s recreational needs while also providing a competitive venue for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, swimming and other athletic competitions. Designed in partnership by KAI and SmithGroup, the Aquatic & Recreation Center (ARC) at McCowan Park is a 75,000-square-foot, two-story facility located within Curtistene S. McCowan Park.

Serving as the central hub of the park, the ARC is part of a larger master plan that includes an amphitheater, water features, a sculpture garden, walking trails and additional sports fields. Through extensive community engagement, the design team worked closely with stakeholders to create a destination that reflects DeSoto’s rich history, culture and diversity.

Designed to support the health and wellness needs of residents of all ages while also serving as a premier destination for competitive athletics, the center features an eight-lane competition pool and a leisure pool with observation decks on the second level. A 400-foot fitness track is suspended above the first level, complemented by a fully equipped fitness and strength-training area. Additional amenities include gymnasiums, meeting rooms, locker rooms, administrative offices and social gathering spaces.

KAI provided architectural support services, including program review and validation, community engagement, bidding support and construction administration.