As Seen On Sun Sentinel.
Written By Emmet Hall | Published on March 05, 2021 at 9:49 a.m.
Pompano Beach residents have something to look forward to as a major renovation of the McNair Recreational Center, 951 NW 27th Ave., recently kicked off.
The city has teamed up with Kaufman Lynn Construction to begin upgrades at the center, which will include a new synthetic turf field with sports lighting, concession building, fitness center, yoga studio, and a 5,000-square-foot clubhouse with bathrooms.
Home of the Pompano Cowboys, the players, coaches, families and fans will be eager to hit the field and use all the new amenities that will be available. The project is expected to be completed by November.
McNair Park was named in honor of the astronaut Ronald E. McNair who was killed in the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. The park has been a popular recreation oasis for residents for the past several decades and has a history of producing outstanding athletes who learned their skills on the Cowboys gridiron. Baltimore Ravens quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson was one of those standouts who came from the Cowboys program.
Between many park renovations going on throughout the city and the organization of food drive distribution sites for the community, city staff has remained busy. A milestone was established when it was calculated that 1 million pounds of food has been distributed to the community to combat the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Back in 2012 we started our first-ever parks master plan and we conducted public meetings and received input from the public,” Pompano Beach Recreation program director Mark Beaudreau said. “It was adopted in July 2013 and McNair was one of those huge projects that is now coming to fruition. I am ecstatic that the Cowboys will have synthetic turf to play on and it will be a great project for the community.”
There were several aging facilities in the city and the General Obligation Bond has provided funding for new synthetic turf fields for the Pompano Cowboys, Pompano Eagles and Pompano Chiefs youth football programs.
“This will be a tremendous boost for our youth programs,” Beaudreau said. “We are thrilled to see these projects underway and all three programs will be provided for. We will figure out all the logistics if and when there is a football season. We got through all the hurdles and everything is moving along. Kaufman Lynn Construction has been a great partner for our McNair project.”
Kaufman Lynn Construction is involved with many public and private projects in South Florida as well as the southeastern area of the United States. Founded in 1989, the company was named the 2020 Contractor of the Year in the Southeast by Engineering News-Record.
Kaufman Lynn Construction’s Nathan Coker is vice president and project executive on the McNair Park project.
“McNair Park is an important landmark and recreational hub for the community and is a central gathering point for the neighborhood,” he said. “The area was in need of an upgrade and the city has made that investment. We will have a 1,800 bleacher capacity for games with a press box, state-of-the-art synthetic turf field, and a French drainage system designed so the community won’t have to deal with flooding issues.”
With COVID-19 restricting many indoor activities, outdoor activities have become even more important in communities.
“The city of Pompano is going all out to invest in this particular park,” Coker said. “In the age of COVID, the city is realizing the importance of having an outdoor space in the community. Being shut in has really taken a toll psychologically and it’s great for everyone to have an outlet. We are very confident that this project will be completed this November.”