Citizens and Dignitaries gathered in front of the Pilgrim's Center at the Ribbon Cutting.2023 MPTX

CITY HOSTED RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY FOR PILGRIM’S COMMUNITY CENTER

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It was a great day in Mount Pleasant yesterday as the community came together to celebrate the official opening of the new Pilgrims Community Center in Oaklawn Park.

It was a standing-room-only crowd in the beautiful main meeting room of the center during the program, which included comments from Mayor Tracy Craig, Sr., Mayor Pro Tem Tim Dale, Pilgrim’s Complex Manager Raphael Boyd, U.S. Congressman Nathaniel Moran’s office, and an invocation by Dr. Tony Rundles of Greater Hope Church of God in Christ.

“Today we celebrate this beautiful example of what can happen when the public and private sectors partner together,” said Mayor Tracy Craig Sr. “We thank everyone here that played a role in the completion of the Pilgrim’s Community Center.”

Mayor Tracy Craig addresses attendees at the Pilgrim's Community Center Ribbon Cutting.

Mayor Tracy Craig addresses attendees at the Pilgrim’s Community Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.Special honorees announced were the late Arvella Ophelia Godbolt Cartwright, Reverend L.J. Haskins, Sr. and Dr. I.W. Milsapp along with current City Councilmember Jerry Dell Walker. The legacy of each community leader was commemorated with a plaque and the naming of a room at the community center in their honor.

Standing Room Only at the Pilgrim's Community Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.

Standing Room Only at the Pilgrim’s Community Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.

The Pilgrim’s Community Center includes a main meeting room that can be divided and looks out to Oaklawn Park through a wall of glass. There are also two additional meetings rooms and a kitchen. The real showpiece worth a visit is a wall-length historical mural highlighting the civic, school and athletic leaders through the decades.

Mayor Pro Tem Dale recognized the professionals who brought the City and Pilgrim’s vision for the community center to life, including Derrick and Jordan Godwin of Godwin Design Architects; and Watson Commercial Construction Led by Brad Watson, President and Project Director, and Trent Godsey, Project Manager.

He also recognized Master Carpenter Scott Harman, who built handsome display cabinets and the mural cover in the foyer. Carla Martin of Sign Express helped design and print the enormous mural.

The Pilgrim’s Community Center is located at 820 West Pecan Street in Oaklawn Park. Reservation information for the both the new community center and the Civic Center can be obtained by calling 903-575-4190 or emailing jbeard@mpcity.org.

Dignitaries from the City and Pilgrim's cut the Ribbon to Open the new center.

Dignitaries from the City and Pilgrim’s cut the Ribbon to Open the new center.