The Courier of Montgomery County reports that, following being damaged for years by flooding and its closing, the City of Conroe is demolishing the Westside Recreation Center.
During their Thursday meeting, the Conroe City Council agreed to award Kingwood-based Inland Environments an $88,227 contract for its demolishment.
Sitting along the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, inside the river’s floodway, the facility was formerly the Conroe YMCA.
Fishing, hiking trails and a pavilion, the park’s amenities, have remained open to the public.
Back in 2021, the city purchased the building and its 116.74 acres for $2.5 million.
Deputy City Administrator Nancy Mikeska said the facility’s cooling and heating system, elevators, electrical and plumbing needed replacement in December of 2024. She said the building has shifted on its foundation. Flooding has been instrumental in buckling the floor, in turn splitting and separating the walls which affects the structure’s integrity. Additionally, repeated flooding has damaged the pool. It was removed because of safety reasons.
