City Opens up Facilities for Evening and Sunday Use

Mayor Tim Keller joined local musicians and community members to announce an expanded facility rental initiative that will make City spaces more accessible for celebrations, sports, classes, meetings, performances and other community gatherings, including evenings and weekends when many families need them most.

“Abundance starts with recognizing what we already have,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “These are public spaces that belong to our community, but too often they sit underused or empty. We’re opening them up to provide an affordable option where families can celebrate, neighbors can gather or teams can practice.”   

The City operates dozens of community facilities with classrooms, gyms, meeting rooms, patios and other spaces. The expanded rental program is designed to provide more affordable options for birthday parties, quinceañeras, family celebrations, youth sports, community meetings, performances and other activities at a time when the cost and availability of private gathering spaces can put them out of reach for many families.

The City showcased the expanded use of public facilities with a lunchtime performance by local band Revíva at Los Duranes Community Center. The performance previewed an upcoming benefit concert supporting families affected by blood cancer while demonstrating how City facilities can provide affordable venues for local musicians, community events and charitable causes.

“A lot of people don’t have the level of healthcare that I have as a veteran, so I want to give back to an organization that helps people who may not have that,” said King Sakya, who retired from the U.S. Navy. “It’s great to have a space we can rent at a local community center to show people what they can expect at the benefit.”

The expanded rental program is part of Mayor Keller’s third-term abundance agenda, which aims to democratize access to public resources, reduce the friction of everyday life and put underused City assets to work for the community.

Residents and organizations can visit the City’s new website for a list of facilities and spaces available for rent. Availability, fees and requirements vary by facility and type of use.