Garland Council Weighs Bradfield Recreation Center and Pool Decommissioning
Garland City Council is weighing a proposal to decommission Bradfield Recreation Center and Bradfield Pool as part of the city’s proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget. Both facilities remain open, and no final closure decision had been made as of Aug. 4, 2026.
The proposal puts neighborhood recreation access against the cost of repairing and operating facilities built in 1975. Council’s budget process includes public hearings and additional deliberation before any final decision.
Repair and operating costs
According to city staff, approximately $2.2 million would be needed for immediate repairs and near-term work to keep Bradfield Recreation Center and Pool operating. The estimate includes approximately $1.4 million in recreation-center work, including roof, heating and air-conditioning, electrical and gym-floor needs, and about $747,000 in pool work.
Pool-related work includes replastering and repairs to water-circulation and treatment systems. The city also reported a separate $12,000 electrical repair at the pool in 2026.
The repair estimate is separate from the facilities’ annual operating costs. City materials place those costs at more than $600,000 a year, including staffing, utilities, chemicals, routine maintenance and other operating expenses.
The city says the repair work would address critical systems needed to continue operating the facilities but would not fully modernize them or resolve every long-term need. Even after the repairs, additional major investment could be required because the buildings and pool are more than 50 years old.
Bradfield remains open
Bradfield Recreation Center remains open and is operating under its normal schedule, according to the city. Bradfield Pool is also operational after reopening following an electrical repair earlier this season.
The proposal concerns the recreation center and pool. Bradfield Park’s baseball fields, tennis courts and other park amenities are not proposed for closure under the current plan.
If council does not approve the proposal, the facilities would continue operating, but the city would still need to address the estimated repair and annual operating costs through the budget or another funding source.
Possible alternatives for residents
Garland says most residents who live within three miles of Bradfield would remain within three miles of another city recreation center if Bradfield Recreation Center were decommissioned. The city identifies Gale Fields, Granger and Holford recreation centers as nearby alternatives.
City materials also identify DART connections from Bradfield Park to Fields, Granger and Holford. Current trip planning indicates each destination is a little more than 30 minutes away by transit, although actual travel times vary by route, schedule and time of day.
The Garland ISD Larry Glick Natatorium offers community swim times, and Holford Recreation & Aquatic Center offers swimming lessons. Nearby splash pads would provide water-play options but would not provide the same services as a pool, including lap swimming and swim lessons.
No replacement recreation center or pool has been approved or funded. City staff has said a future bond program could provide an opportunity to consider a modern recreation or aquatic facility, but that would require planning, a funding source, council action and public input.
What happens next
During the June 6 budget workshop, council directed the city manager to include the potential decommissioning in the proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget for further consideration. The city said that direction was not a final vote to close the facilities.
Council held a work session on Aug. 3. A regular City Council meeting and budget hearing were scheduled for Aug. 4 at City Hall. Garland’s official budget materials and calendar list different start times for the Aug. 4 proceeding, so residents should check the current council agenda or city calendar before attending or watching.
Residents may provide feedback during public comment at council meetings and budget discussions or contact their City Council representative. Additional budget meetings are scheduled during August, including a special session on Aug. 11 and a regular meeting on Aug. 17 that is scheduled to include budget and tax-rate hearings and proposed adoption actions.
The future of Bradfield Recreation Center and Pool will depend on council action during the budget process. Until a final decision is made, both facilities remain open.
Sources
Look for updates to this story
Discover more from Interactive News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.