Clearwater Celebrates Long-Awaited Opening Of Rec Complex

CLEARWATER, FL -- It's been 21 years in the making so Saturday's grand opening ceremony for the new Morningside Recreation Complex attracted a crowd of residents eager to see the state-of-the-art facility at 2400 Harn Blvd.

Granted, there was another motivation for showing up. The Oct. 6 grand opening included entertainment, bounce houses, games, giveaways and free food and drinks.

"The city of Clearwater and its council prides itself on providing outstanding opportunities for its residents and visitors," Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos said. "The new Morningside Recreation Complex will help address a need that has been missing in the southeastern part of the city for many years."

The new 20,998-square-foot facility houses a gymnasium, fitness center and multi-purpose rooms.

Programs to be offered at the complex include yoga, swim lessons, karate, Pilates, Zumba, basketball, pickleball, table tennis and volleyball.

The new complex cost just over $5.6 million dollars, paid mostly through Penny for Pinellas Funds. Other funding came from a general surplus of $815,000 and Clearwater Gas provided $385,000 so that the new air-conditioning system could be powered by gas.

In the early 1980s, the city of Clearwater acquired an old bar and restaurant that city leaders turned into a recreation center that become the original Morningside Recreation Center. The facility eventually became too costly to maintain because of its age and was eventually torn down in 2007, leaving only the Morningside pool which was built in the early 1960s when a tennis and pool club occupied the space.

After years of securing funding and support, the new complex was approved to be built and construction started in July 2017.

The new Morninside Recreation Complex is expected to cost $600,000 annually to operate. There will also be public art incorporated into the facility's design.

With the opening of the complex, Clearwater now has six recreation facilities.

"I am especially delighted that this new facility is finally open, and I appreciate the patience of the Morningside neighborhood and surrounding neighbors," Mayor Cretekos said.

Image via city of Clearwater

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