The East Texas A&M faculty, staff, and community members are invited to experience the newly expanded Morris Recreation Center (MRC) during its Expansion Grand Opening celebration on Monday, Aug. 24, at East Texas A&M University.

The event will be from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and will feature self-guided tours, light refreshments and opportunities to learn more about Campus Recreation memberships, fitness classes, personal training, swim lessons and other programs available through the center.

Visitors will get an up-close look at the MRC’s transformed spaces, including a welcoming new entrance, expanded fitness areas with mostly all-new equipment, dedicated activity rooms and improved amenities designed to serve students, university employees and community members alike.

Following the grand opening, Campus Recreation will host Recfest from 6:30-9 p.m. The annual welcome-back celebration is open only to East Texas A&M students and will feature games, activities, giveaways, prizes and a DJ.

“We’re excited to show people what we’ve been working toward,” said Mark Spellmire, interim director of Campus Recreation. “Every time I walk into the facility, I’m still blown away. I think it’s going to be really fun for people to experience it as well.”

The expansion also allows Campus Recreation to better accommodate a variety of users.

“The expansion gives us more opportunities for programming,” said Jonathan Johnston, senior associate director of programs. “Instead of offering just one class at a time, we can now have a yoga class and a body tone class happening simultaneously.”

The Morris Recreation Center grand opening is free and open to the public. Community members interested in learning more about memberships and programs are encouraged to attend and see the facility’s new spaces firsthand.

While we celebrate the MRC Expansion Grand Opening, we kindly ask that visitors do not use the fitness equipment, climbing wall or pool.