Published: April 17, 2008 06:03 pm         

Plans announced for Southside Community Center

By David Wilfong

Herald-Banner Staff



Pastor Joe Robbins and former Rockwall City Councilmember Sam Buffington reported to the Rockwall City Council last Monday night that they are working toward building a new community center in the Southside neighborhood directly across from Gloria Williams Park.

The concept of the community center is not new, as it was the focus of conversation at the last Juneteenth celebration which was held on the site. However, at the council meeting Robbins presented schematics of the proposed building and stated that the estimated cost of the project would be $180,000.

Buffington has announced that there will also be a public meeting to discuss the new community center on June 22 at Howard Dobbs Elementary. The event will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. and feature barbecue and gospel music. The public is invited to attend.

Buffington is eager to inform the public of the plans and purpose for the new center.

“There is a need.” Buffington said. “The community center down there at Harry Myers Park is booked up solid through October, at least on all the weekends. This (community center) can be something similar to what they have down there at Harry Myers. The building is going to be nice enough that they can do anything they want to in it. We want them to know its there if they want to use it. This is going to be something for the whole community, not just Southside.”

Buffington also pointed out that the center will provide a focus for the neighborhood’s association.

“There’s going to be room for an office in the back of that building, and that office is going to be the home of the Southside Coalition,” he said. “But we need to take it out of our mind and put it down on the ground.”

There will also be a Juneteenth celebration on the property dedicated to the new community center on June 22.

The celebration will begin at 9 a.m. The pool at Gloria Williams Park will be open from noon to 7 p.m. Buffington reports that here will be a special program at noon with singing and hopefully a keynote speaker.

“We want to invite the city, county and the school people down here like we used to, said Buffington. “Our young people are going to sing and the food is gonna be good.”