Allen Council approves $264,280 for Joe Farmer Recreation Center expansion

Allen City Council unanimously approved $264,280 to purchase fitness equipment for the Joe Farmer Recreation Center, a move city officials say responds to sustained member demand and will increase available workout space.

The purchase, approved at the council's Jan. 13 meeting, will be made through Team Marathon Fitness and includes three half-rack workout stations, two half-rack Smith machines, two rowing machines, free weights, three treadmills, one step mill, one elliptical and one recumbent bike. Director of Parks and Recreation Kate Meacham said community feedback from the center’s 3,200 members consistently requests additional equipment.

City staff plan to relocate some existing machines into a racquetball court room, creating roughly 1,570 square feet of additional workout area. The reconfiguration and installation of the new equipment are scheduled for April. The council will return to its next work session and regular session on Jan. 27.

The decision addresses capacity constraints at Joe Farmer, which serves a broad cross-section of Allen residents and operates as a community hub for fitness and recreation. With new cardio and strength-training machines as well as expanded floor space, the center is likely to see shorter wait times for popular equipment and improved ability to serve members during peak hours. For residents who rely on city recreation facilities for affordable fitness options, the investment signals a municipal commitment to maintaining and upgrading local infrastructure.

The procurement also reflects the city's approach to meeting public requests through targeted capital spending rather than larger facility expansion. By repurposing an existing indoor court, the city avoids building new square footage while responding directly to the specific equipment needs voiced by center members. Details on any temporary closures or shifts in program scheduling during the relocation and installation period were not provided at the meeting.

For Allen residents, the approval means a measurable upgrade to a frequently used community resource. Installation in April should translate into more available machines and expanded workout space by spring, while the Jan. 27 council session will provide the next public opportunity for elected officials to update the community on timing, access and any operational changes at Joe Farmer Recreation Center.