Richard Showers Rec Center could soon see an upgrade

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The Dr. Richard Showers Sr. Recreation Center, the campus known for its events beyond traditional activities, is set for an upgrade.

The center has been the main hub for community activities in north Huntsville for four decades.

Huntsville City Councilman Devyn Keith says the Showers Center has played an important role in his life and the lives of many.

“So many memories for a lot of people here for people all of Huntsville, not just north Huntsville of what happened over the past 30 years of my life, how many times I’ve been here,” said Keith. “I had a birthday here, played baseball games here, played a football game or a basketball game here.”

But the community staple is due for an upgrade. Huntsville city leaders announced that the recreation hub will undergo a comprehensive assessment to determine its needs. That assessment will include every building on the 58,000-square-foot facility.

“We will be making upgrades from everything to the Showers pool, to the gym, to the ball fields and to the parking lot,” Keith explained.

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The enhancements to the aging recreation center are part of the city of Huntsville’s investment in upgrades for its community spaces.

In a recent meeting, City Administrator John Hamilton told the city council the following:

“There are needs across the community…so it’s important to make those investments in all five districts and corners of the city. And that’s exactly what we are doing.”

There is concern, however, from community members who want the city to emphasize the communities’ input while preparing for the upgrade.

“There needs to be input from the people who are using the Showers center – people who swim here, bring their kids here and we’re going to review every inch of this campus for the revitalization plan. It’ll take about a year for the construction part, but I promise you if you give your input, it will be taken seriously,” Keith said.

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