Southlake City Council Selects "The Marq" as the Name of the Community Recreation Center

Exterior rendering of the The Marq Southlake

After much research, discussion and thought, Southlake City Council approved a name for the new community recreation center (CRC) at its October 21 meeting: The Marq Southlake. The City worked with Willow St. Agency, a marketing agency based out of Dallas, to name and brand the facility.

In addition, the City Council approved names for the distinct areas of the Marq:

• Legends Hall – Phase 1 which includes an events hall, multipurpose conference & meeting spaces, a club lounge, catering kitchen, senior center and events space
• Aria – Outdoor amphitheater (included in Phase 1).
• Champions Club – Phase 2, if approved, will include spaces for fitness, performance training, gymnasium, indoor jog/walk track, indoor aquatics, indoor playground, party rooms, early learning classroom, child watch and multipurpose classrooms for programs.

The name selection comes right on the heels of the groundbreaking ceremony onSeptember 27, marking the official beginning of construction for The Marq. Approximately 300 people attended the three-hour event, which included breakfast, lunch, tours, and a presentation from Mayor John Terrell, Mayor Pro Tem Laura Hill, Director of Community Services Chris Tribble, and Council Member Carolyn Morris, who is also president of the Southlake Parks Development Corporation.

Construction for The Marq is underway and the grand opening for Phase 1 is anticipated for late 2015. Watch the facility come to life with up-to-date construction photos at www.TheMarqSouthlake.com.

The Marq will be built in phases and has a multi-year development timeline:

• September 2014 – Phase 1 construction begins
• May 2015 – Possible sales tax re-purpose election to fund proposed Phase 2
• Summer 2015 – Proposed Phase 2 design
• Late 2015 – Phase 1 Grand Opening
• Fall 2016 – Proposed Phase 2 construction begins
• Early 2018 – Proposed Phase 2 Grand Opening

In order for Phase 2 to be built, an election is required. The election, which is tentatively scheduled for May 2015, will ask Southlake voters to consider re-purposing an existing sales tax revenue source to construct and offset a portion of the facility’s operating costs.

The Marq is located at 315 North Shady Oaks Drive in the southwest corner of Bicentennial Park. For more information, visit www.TheMarqSouthlake.com or call Southlake Community Services at (817) 748-8019.