EastTexasRadio.com Powered by Ten Stations
by Mt Pleasant City Manager Ed Thatcher
We are pleased to announce that soon we will see dirt flying for the new Pilgrims Community Center at Oaklawn Park.
It will be a city facility, made possible through Pilgrims’ donation of $1.45 million through its Hometown Strong program, created to give back to its communities and where its employees live.
That made Oaklawn Park an ideal location for the new Community Center. This neighborhood has supported Pilgrims throughout the years, and many employees have lived and raised their families there, leaving a rich and lasting legacy.
The Community Center will accommodate multiple activities simultaneously in the beautiful park setting. To ensure plentiful space, the Council approved the investment of an additional $980,000 by the city, for a total of $2.43 million.
Godwin Design of Hughes Springs, Texas, designed the facility, and Watson Commercial Construction of Tyler won last July’s bidding process.
Steel has been ordered and should arrive in February. Once the steel and other materials are on the ground, the construction timeline from start to completion will be 18 months, weather-dependent.
That puts the opening date in the Summer of 2023!
This project is an excellent investment in our city and its people, and we will soon share an invitation to the Groundbreaking, and you can also be assured that Pilgrims and the City will host a celebration once the Community Center opens in 2023.
Cortnez Cemetery Update
Another investment in our community approved by City Council is a new pavilion in the Cortnez Cemetery that will provide citizens the ability to hold graveside services during inclement weather.
Glen Calvert, P.E., of Mount Pleasant, designed the pavilion, and the budgeted investment is $100,000. This project is currently out for bid, and we’ve ordered the steel.
We hope to begin construction in February. Once started, the pavilion should be completed within eight months or by this Fall.
As you can see, we have much to look forward to in 2022. It is an honor to serve you and our City Councilmembers, who are volunteer servants working very hard on behalf of our great city. Please get in touch with me anytime at ethatcher@mpcity.net or 903-575-4000.