West Memphis plans March 18 groundbreaking for $34 million aquatic and recreation center at Tilden Rodgers Park
Project overview and timing
West Memphis officials have scheduled a public groundbreaking for a new indoor aquatic and recreation center on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 3 p.m. The facility is planned for Tilden Rodgers Park, positioned between Airport Road and College Road, an area that already functions as one of the city’s primary sports and recreation hubs.
The project’s announced cost is $34 million. City materials describe the new building as a year-round destination intended to expand indoor recreation options during periods when outdoor activities are limited by weather.
What the center is expected to include
Plans released for the center outline a multi-use indoor facility combining aquatics, court sports, fitness, and community meeting space. The proposed program includes an indoor aquatic area designed for lessons, training, and family swim, alongside indoor courts for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball.
- Indoor aquatic center for swim lessons, training, and family swim
- Basketball, volleyball, and pickleball courts
- Indoor walking track
- Fitness and workout rooms
- Community rooms, party rooms, and meeting spaces
- Youth programming, senior health programs, and other year-round activities
Location: building on an existing recreation complex
Tilden Rodgers Park has been promoted by the city as an established complex for athletics and outdoor recreation. The planned indoor center would be added to that footprint, with the stated goal of pairing indoor programming with existing amenities.
City announcements also identify Project Luong Architecture and Development as a partner connected to the planned facility.
Process and what remains unknown
While the city has publicly set a ceremonial groundbreaking date and described the planned amenities, key project details have not been released in the same materials, including a construction schedule, procurement outcomes, and the anticipated opening date. No operating budget projections were included in the announcement describing the event.
Public recreation facilities of this scale typically face two major sets of questions after groundbreaking: first, whether design, contracting, and supply timelines align with the intended build-out; and second, how operating costs—staffing, utilities, maintenance, and programming—will be covered over time. Those details were not provided alongside the groundbreaking notice.
The groundbreaking is scheduled for March 18, 2026, at 3 p.m., at Tilden Rodgers Park.
What to watch next
With the groundbreaking set, the next milestones likely to clarify the project’s trajectory will include finalized design documents, contracted construction terms, and a firm schedule for completion and opening. Additional disclosures on facility operations—such as hours, user fees, and programming plans—will also be central to understanding how the center is expected to function once built.