Mercedes Rec Center
701 Mathis Street
Mercedes, TX 78570
956-565-3033
Website
Mercedes Rec Center, located in Mercedes, Texas, has been the unfortunate victim of flood waters, twice. The first flood occurred in 2017 as Hurricane Harvey dumped massive amounts of rain in the region. Fortunately, the destructive hurricane winds did not reach this far south. The second flood was in 2019, following more heavy rains.
The Mercedes Rec Center is a city owned facility which was once operated by the local Boys and Girls Club. The building is divided into a spacious gymnasium and a smaller wing which houses the lobby, game room, and offices. The gym measures roughly 95 feet by 79 feet. Most of this space is made up of the basketball court, with plenty of distance between the foul lines and the walls. There is also room for bleachers along one side, without any feeling of being over crowded.
As we became more involved in the project, we learned that the facility had Sport Court® Response gym flooring prior to the 2017 flood. During the reconstruction following Hurricane Harvey, the flooring was “Value Engineered” down to an inferior product. Coaches, players, and staff were not at all happy with this knock off flooring. Everyone at the Mercedes Rec Center wanted to return to Sport Court®.
Mercedes Rec Center
701 Mathis Street
Mercedes, TX 78570
956-565-3033
Website
This is not the first time that we have heard about the dissatisfaction that often comes with floors that appear similar. Sport Court® flooring has patented features as well as superior design and engineering. These features which are unique to Sport Court® are not always obvious to the casual observer. Just because it looks similar does not mean it performs similarly.
With concerns about future flooding, everyone involved thought that Sport Court® Response was the most logical choice. Response flooring comes in 16 solid colors and is available without the high gloss urethane topcoat. Response is also available with a ultra-hard UV-cured multi-layer factory-applied urethane top coat. However, the high gloss option would not have been appropriate for this facility due to potential for future flooding.
Once the flooring and the color was chosen the order was placed. Installation of the new Sport Court® gym flooring took place the last weekend in September 2019. The rubber underlayment, flooring and a few wall and column pads were installed in 2 days. The game stripes were painted and the cove molding installed on the 3rd day.
The Mercedes Rec Center re-opened with a new Sport Court® gym floor and a fully remodeled game room and lobby. The facility offers after school programs and summer programs as well as youth sports leagues. For additional information about the Mercedes Rec Center, please visit their website.
To learn more about Sport Court® gym flooring or to get our expert assistance laying out your gym, please contact South Texas Sport Court.
