Site selection continues for possible water park

Clarendon’s pursuit of a water recreation facility is continuing through the site selection process following action by the City Council last week.

Following the project steering committee’s recommendation last Wednesday, the City Council met Thursday, January 14, and authorized the firm of Thornton Tomasetti to perform a structural evaluation of the former Elizabeth Stevens School building (also known as the Texas Saddlery building) south of Prospect Park.

Over the last three months, the 1922 school building has arisen as a possible site for the water recreation project. Tomasetti’s firm will help the committee answer several questions about whether the building might be suitable for repurposing as part of a water recreation facility.

The council approved spending up to $5,200 to study the location, and City Administrator David Dockery said those funds have been made available by a donor.

Once the former school has been properly evaluated, the steering committee will consider recommending either that site or city-owned property east of the Post Office as a location for the water recreation facility and can then pursue conceptual designs and cost estimates for the project, Dockery said.

The project originated last summer when a benefactor offered the city $500,000 as a challenge to build water recreation facility for Clarendon. The city-appointed steering committee was later charged with making recommendations to the city council on the project.