Nine years after Hurricane Harvey exposed the need for a larger, better-equipped gathering place in Daisetta, the community has a new center designed to serve residents in good times and in times of crisis.
City officials, residents, community leaders and guests gathered July 23 to celebrate the opening of the new Daisetta Community Center, an 11,000-square-foot facility located at 410 Main St., next to Daisetta City Hall.
The $3.3 million center, funded through a grant from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, is the result of years of planning, persistence and a vision championed by Daisetta Mayor Cindy Burchfield.
For Burchfield, the need for such a facility became especially apparent during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, when severe flooding displaced residents in the Hull-Daisetta area.
Burchfield recalled how residents were brought together at the school gym, where they stayed for about eight days. She and her children worked the night shift at the shelter, and when things quieted down, she heard people talk about what they had lost and what they were going through.
Having previously lost everything in a house fire herself, Burchfield understood some of what those families were experiencing.
“We knew that we got to do something better so that when we do have a situation like that, to give people just a little bit of space to go through that the way they need to go through it,” Burchfield said.
Harvey also showed her what made the community special.
While many people were dealing with flooding and problems at their own homes, Burchfield said city employees continued working through the rain to take care of residents. She also recalled the city’s police chief Mike Parrish working around the clock because he was a one-man department at the time.
When Burchfield asked why he would not go home, she said he told her residents were nervous and needed to see him out in the community.
“That’s part of what makes Daisetta something special,” Burchfield said. “When things get hard, we take care of each other.”
Out of those difficult days came an idea for something better — a facility that could provide residents with more space and resources during emergencies while also serving as a gathering place during happier times.
Former Daisetta resident Donna Cain, who participated in the July 23 ceremony through a video message, recalled the early discussions about such a facility.
“First of all, let me extend my congratulations to the city of Daisetta on the completion of this beautiful new community center,” Cain said. “Seeing it completed is a culmination of many hopes and dreams that started years ago.”
Cain said she still remembers Burchfield posing a simple thought: “Just imagine what we could do if we had a community center.”
Turning that idea into reality took years.
Daisetta Mayor Pro Tem Chancie Bailey said discussions about a new community facility began with a relatively straightforward goal — creating a place where residents could gather, celebrate, learn and serve one another.
“The vision was easy. The work took a little longer,” Bailey said.
Funding had to be secured, plans developed, partnerships established and numerous meetings held before the project could move forward.
One of the biggest milestones came when the city secured the $3.3 million grant through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
Bailey credited Burchfield’s persistence, including trips to the agency’s office, with helping secure the funding and move the project from an idea toward reality.
The city held a groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 23, 2024. From there, residents watched as steel and walls went up and the long-discussed project gradually took shape.
There were delays and challenges along the way, but those involved remained committed to completing the project.
Bailey recognized the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, GrantWorks, The LaBiche Architectural Group Inc., G&G Enterprises, Fitz & Shipman Engineering, city staff, current and former elected officials, and residents who supported the project.
She offered special recognition to Burchfield.
“This project has been a labor of love for her,” Bailey said. “If there was a meeting, she was there. If there was a phone call to make, she made it. If there was a question to ask, chances were she already had.”
Lanie Brown, district director for U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, offered another indication of just how long Burchfield had been advocating for the project.
Brown said she and Burchfield have known each other for years and served together through the Texas Municipal League. Thinking back to their conversations since Hurricane Harvey, Brown said one subject continually came up.
“I don’t remember a conversation that didn’t include this community center,” Brown said.
Now that the work is finished, Mayor Bailey said the facility belongs to the community.
“Today though, this building doesn’t belong to a project team or to the City of Daisetta,” she said. “It belongs to all the people of Daisetta, and that is exactly where it belongs and where it was meant to be from the start.”
State Rep. Janis Holt also recognized the determination of the community in seeing the project through. Holt said she was familiar with Daisetta and its reputation long before she was elected to the Texas House.
“I knew of Daisetta, and I knew and heard of its resilience and the strong people that live here,” Holt said.
During the ceremony, Holt presented Burchfield with a Texas flag that had been flown over the State Capitol in recognition of the community center’s grand opening.
Holt also read a certificate recognizing the facility as an investment in the future of Daisetta and surrounding communities. The certificate described the new center as a symbol of “vision, perseverance, and community partnership” and expressed hope that it will serve as a place where neighbors gather and memories are made for generations to come.
Cleveland City Councilman Andrew McClusky served as emcee for the opening celebration, introducing guests and speakers.
“We’ve talked about this building for so long that I think some of y’all were starting to wonder if we’d ever quit talking about it and get the darn thing actually open,” McClusky joked. “Well, today’s that day.”
McClusky said the celebration represented more than the opening of another municipal building.
“Today just isn’t about opening a building, it’s about celebrating a community,” he said. “It’s about celebrating the people who had a vision, the people who worked to make that vision happen, and the people who will fill this building with life for years to come.”
The new center includes a computer lab, bathrooms with showers, a washer and dryer, a full-service kitchen and space that can accommodate a variety of community activities.
Those amenities also give Daisetta resources that could prove valuable should the community face another hurricane, flood or other emergency.
During normal times, the building is expected to host a wide range of activities, from the annual Mayhaw Festival and private gatherings to community and educational programs.
Burchfield is particularly hopeful that education will become an important part of the center’s future. She would like to see a local junior college use the facility to offer GED classes and testing and potentially provide dual-credit or certification courses closer to home for area residents.
During the ceremony, McClusky encouraged those in attendance to think about the difference individuals can make in their own communities. While building a community center was a major undertaking, he said making a positive difference does not always require something on that scale.
“Each of us can also have an impact if we focus on what we can do, get involved, and have a positive impact,” he said.
Among the dignitaries attending the celebration were Liberty County Judge Jay Knight, Sheriff Bobby Rader, Pct. 1 Commissioner Bruce Karbowski, Pct. 2 Constable John Tucker, State Rep. Janis Holt, members of the Daisetta City Council and Lanie Brown with U.S. Rep. Brian Babin’s office.
For information about reserving the facility, contact the City of Daisetta at 936-536-6761.