The Gustavo "Gus" L. Garcia Recreation Center Senior Wing project is a facility expansion project to support the growing number of ageing adults in the area. The additional space at the recreation center will be a dedicated, welcoming space for people 50 years and older with programs and services. The community engagement and information gathering phase will begin in Fall 2025. City Council District 4
Upcoming:
- Community Information Meeting on Proposed Gus Garcia Senior Wing
Gus Garcia Recreation Center
1201 E Rundberg Ln, Austin, TX 78753
Wednesday, August 20, 10:45 a.m.
Background
The Gustavo “Gus” L. Garcia Recreation Center had its grand opening on April 26, 2008, an event long anticipated by the North/Northeast community. The Gustavo “Gus” L. Garcia Recreation Center and park were chosen as part of the 1998 bond election package to develop Austin’s parks and greenbelts. Construction was due to begin in 2001, but a downturn in the local economy forced delays. The City put the Gus Garcia Park and Recreation Center back on the list of budgeted projects in 2005. The building was completed in March 2008 and achieved LEED NC Gold certification in 2009 for its sustainable approach. This 19,200 square-foot facility offers youth, teen, adult, and senior adult programs and consists of primary spaces such as a lobby, a kitchen, offices, and restrooms along with a large gymnasium/sports area, a public computer lab, a teen room, a multipurpose room used for voting and for meals on wheels, a fitness room (for aerobic and dance activities), and three multipurpose rooms.
The recreation center is named in honor of Gustavo “Gus” Garcia who dedicated more than three decades of his life to public service. He served as President of the Board of the Austin Independent School District, as a member of the Austin City Council, as Mayor Pro Tem, and, in 2001, was elected as Austin’s first Hispanic Mayor.
Project Description
Based on a citywide recreation and senior center facility assessment and gap analysis report, adding a new site dedicated to seniors in Northeast Austin is a top priority for Austin Parks and Recreation. The plan is to expand the existing Gus Garcia Recreation Center to create a dedicated, welcoming space for seniors, while keeping it connected to the larger recreation center and park. This will give older adults more room for fitness, social activities, classes, and community events, while still allowing for intergenerational programs. Work on community engagement and early design will happen ahead of the proposed 2026 bond vote, which could fund construction if approved. On July 31, 2025, a memorandum to mayor and council identified a new facility expansion for seniors at Gus Garcia Recreation Center as a Parks and Recreation staff recommended project in the proposed recreation and senior center bond program. Ahead of the anticipated 2026 bond, Austin Parks and Recreation will begin community engagement and preliminary design for the senior center expansion.
Objectives
The Gus Garcia Recreation Center Senior Wing project aims to:
- Respond to the community members' expressed priorities for a dedicated senior space at Gus Garcia District Park;
- Keep the senior wing connected to the main recreation campus for intergenerational activities;
- Ensure the project aligns with the upcoming park vision plan update;
- Leverage existing infrastructure, staffing, and parking while creating a dedicated and welcoming space for seniors to maximize resources;
- Develop cost estimates and designs to be ready if bond funding is approved; and
- Complete construction within 6 years of the anticipated 2026 bond if approved.
Anticipated Schedule
- Community Engagement: Fall 2025 to Winter 2025/2026
- Design Team Contracting: Fall 2025
- Preliminary Design Phase: Winter 2025/2026 to Summer 2026
- Design Development Phase: To be determined
- Permit and Bid Phase: To be determined
- Construction Phase: To be determined
Community Engagement
Austin Parks and Recreation will work with the communities of seniors and older adults in Northeast Austin to ensure that their concerns and aspirations are directly reflected in the alternatives developed by Parks and Recreation and provide feedback on how input influenced decisions.
Community Information Meeting on Proposed Gus Garcia Senior Wing
Gus Garcia Recreation Center
1201 E Rundberg Ln, Austin, TX 78753
Wednesday, August 20, 10:45 a.m.
The purpose of this meeting is to share next steps and answer questions following the Gus Garcia senior group’s decision to reallocate funding for a temporary portable structure to a permanent expansion solution.
Funding and Resources
The preliminary design phase is funded by a Fiscal Year 2025 one-time City Council appropriation. Future phases are currently unfunded.
Contact Information
For more information, please contact Alyssa Tharrett by email at Alyssa.Tharrett@austintexas.gov or by phone at (512) 974-9508.
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