By the end of opening weekend in April, the city had sold 1,463-plus early-bird memberships to its new Aquatic and Recreation Center at Curtistene McCowan Park. About 1,846 people came to the ribbon cutting, and the building had 2,000 visitors that first weekend. Six months later, the price sheet explains why so many people bought early. At 1400 Academy Way, walking in for a single visit is the costliest way to use the building. Every plan that asks for more commitment brings the cost per visit down quickly. If you haven't joined yet, October has several free ways to try the place first.
Here's how the numbers work for a DeSoto household. All prices below are resident rates from the city's ARC Information & Membership Guide.
Three visits cost more than a month
The ARC sells three kinds of access. Dual covers both pools, the sauna, the gym, the fitness center, the indoor track and the group exercise studio. Rec covers the gym, fitness center, track and studio. Aquatic covers the two pools and the sauna.
Here is what an adult resident aged 18 to 54 pays for Dual access:
| How you pay | Price | What it works out to |
|---|---|---|
| Daily | $25 | $25 per visit |
| Monthly | $55 | Less than three day passes |
| Annual | $360 | $30 a month |
Three Dual day passes cost $75, so a monthly membership pays for itself by about the third visit. The annual plan costs $300 less than twelve monthly payments, which would total $660. For anyone who expects to use the building through winter, the annual rate brings each month down to $30, less than the cost of two Dual day passes.
Swimming is what makes the Dual plan cost more. An adult resident pays $215 a year for Rec or for Aquatic, and $360 for Dual. That $145 gap is the price of using both halves of the building. If you only lift weights, play pickleball, or walk the indoor track, Rec gives you the dry side for a lot less.
Families and seniors get the best deals
The savings grow when more people share a plan. A resident Family Dual membership covers up to five people for $600 a year. Compare that with buying individual plans for a household of two adults and two kids aged 3 to 17. Two adult Dual plans at $360 each and two youth Dual plans at $240 each add up to $1,200. The family plan covers the same four people for half that, and there's still room for a fifth.
Resident annual pricing at a glance:
| Category | Dual | Rec or Aquatic |
|---|---|---|
| Youth, 3 to 17 | $240 | $145 |
| Adult, 18 to 54 | $360 | $215 |
| Military / Senior 55+ | $145 | $85 |
| Family, up to 5 | $600 | $360 |
Military members and residents 55 and older pay the least of anyone in the building. Their annual Dual plan is $145, about $12 a month, for full access to pools, sauna, gym and track. A single Dual day pass in that same category costs $20. That means eight visits cost more than a full year. The monthly Military/Senior Dual rate is $25, so paying month to month for a year would cost $300, more than double the annual price.
Living in DeSoto also saves money. Non-residents pay $480 a year for adult Dual instead of $360, and $800 for a family plan instead of $600. If you have relatives in Cedar Hill or Lancaster who want to come with you, keep that difference in mind.
What a membership doesn't include
According to the guide, a membership covers access to the indoor facility. Fitness classes, aquatic classes, specialty training, youth activities, leagues, field use, recovery rooms and personal training "may require separate registration and fees."
You can add one paid extra to an active membership. The Kids Zone, Recovery & Wellness Room add-on includes the massage chair, recovery room and cryotherapy treatment. For an adult resident on the Dual plan, the annual price goes from $360 to $510. That's $150 a year, or about $12.50 a month, for recovery access. The monthly version goes from $55 to $70.
Two practical details before you go. First, the ARC is cashless. The city says all transactions must be made with a credit card, debit card or another accepted electronic payment, and cash isn't taken on-site. Second, at the parks board's May 6 meeting, staff announced a new member fee structure. It would give members early registration for classes and programs and lower rates than non-members. Dr. Marques Buford said the change came from community feedback. If you sign up for programs often, this could tip the decision toward joining. Ask about it when you register.
October gives you plenty of ways to try it
You don't need to decide on a membership to get to know the building this month. Several of October's programs on the city's registration site are free or low cost.
- Adult Pickleball Open Play: Free, Oct. 6 to 28. Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., plus Tuesday evenings 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The listing showed 48 openings.
- Dream Fitness: A full-body conditioning class for ages 17 and up. Weekdays 9 to 10 a.m., Oct. 1 to 30, 22 sessions for $95. That's about $4.30 per session, compared with $15 for an adult resident Rec day pass.
- Adult swim lessons: For ages 16 and up. Tuesdays 9:10 to 9:40 a.m., Oct. 6 to 27. The listing showed three openings.
- Level 1 swim lessons for kids 6 and older: Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30 to 6 p.m., Oct. 6 to 29. This session filled up, and the waitlist is open.
- Adult Coed Dodgeball League: Thursdays 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., running Aug. 6 through Dec. 31. Listed at $250, with 12 openings shown.
Because the kids' lesson session filled up, it's a good idea to watch for the next one opening. If you're comparing plans, keep the planned early registration for members in mind too.
The largest free event of the month is the DeSoto Family Boo Bash on Friday, Oct. 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the ARC. The city lists games, bounce houses, laser tag, candy stations, food, face painters, a live DJ and a costume contest. Admission is free. Children must stay with a parent or a responsible adult. Earlier in the month, the city's last Faith Leaders Breakfast of 2026 takes place at the ARC on Oct. 14 from 9 to 11 a.m. This year it honors the DeSoto Community Organizations Active in Disaster group.
Planning your visit around the pools
If you're thinking about the Aquatic or Dual plan, the pool schedule affects how much use you'll get. The city's posted competition-pool schedule shows weekday lap swim from 5 to 6:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and 5:30 to 10 p.m. From 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., programs take over and only two lanes stay open. On weekends, all eight lanes are open for lap swim. Saturday runs 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. That schedule has no effective date printed on it, so check it before you go.
The building hours the city posted in May were Monday through Saturday 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The only leisure-pool schedule we found was for summer, and it ended Aug. 2. Before you plan an afternoon of open swim with the kids, call DeSoto Parks & Recreation at 972-230-7390 for current fall times.
Booking a room for a party or meeting
You can also rent space for birthdays, meetings or team events. Published hourly rates are $125 for each multipurpose room, $75 for the kitchen, $125 for either pool party room or the terrace, $150 for the full-court gym, $100 for a half court, $150 for the mini turf field, and $375 for the swimming pool. Reservations go through Parks & Recreation at the same number.
The building is meant to grow with the park around it. The city's listing for Curtistene S. McCowan Park says the site is only 30% developed and that its 2015 master plan calls for more sports fields and amenities. The ARC's stated goals include making it a central hub for the park and a destination for competitive events and tournaments. The guide doesn't list an effective date, so confirm every price above when you register.
At CoCo Residential, we compare day passes and annual plans the same way we help clients look at the costs that come with owning a home, such as dues, amenities and what you actually use. If being close to places like the ARC matters for your next move in DeSoto, our readiness questionnaire helps us understand your routines before we start looking. Take the Questionnaire, and we'll go through the numbers with you.
