History of the Bennett Recreation Center The Howell Recreation Center is a facility for use by the residents, old and young alike, of the City of Howell and adjacent townships, who participate in the recreation program according to the requirements prescribed by the City of Howell Recreation Commission. The program for the facility will be administered by the Recreation Commission and supervised by the Director, Paul Bennett. The Howell Recreation Center is dedicated to the citizens of the Howell area, the people who will use and enjoy it. The heartfelt thanks of the Howell Parks Foundation are extended to all of the many individuals and business firms who contributed financially to make this project a success, and even more to those who not only gave their dollars but game of their time and talent to make this program possible.On this date, December 12, 1965 it is the distinct pleasure of the board of Directors and the Building committee of the Howell Parks Foundation to turn the keys of this fine facility over to the City of Howell and the Recreation Commission. We are confident that these will be the keys to many happy hours for our citizens.  A DREAM COME TRUE The Howell Area Recreation Center is truly a dream come true for many citizens of the Howell area. For years, since the city first became involved in recreation affairs, it has been the hope of those involved in the program to have a new facility in which to conduct a diversified recreation program. These people dreamed of some individual or business who would one day give them the money or of the day when tax dollars might be available for this purpose. Such a dream was never to be fulfilled.As we look back, the first glimmer of hope came when a special committee of the Howell Jaycees developed the idea that was to become the Howell Parks Foundation. This committee formed the foundation and carried out several small projects to aid the recreation program. They sought to bring about one large cooperative group which would be dedicated to the development of recreational facilities of all kinds in the city. Having been rebuffed for various reasons on several large projects, the foundation slowly “ran out of gas” and became quite inactive.Reactivation of the Howell Parks Foundation was crystallized by the Howell Centennial committee which was in search of  worthwhile cause to which they could donated any funds that might be left n their treasury after the celebration. These funds never came, but the crystallization was complete and the foundation hustled into action despite the lack of dollars.Members were added, advice was sought, and activities were increased to develop a fund raising program that would provide the dollars to build a recreation center. After many meetings a steering committee of noted citizens was formed to help guide the project and provide advice to the board of directors. After due consideration it was decided that the successful drive for funds could best be achieved by hiring professional help. This was done and a full time director was assigned to the project by the professional firm. His job turned out to be more than a full time job and many volunteers became almost full time workers for the foundation and for the cause.Following the prescribed formula, hundreds of local citizens were asked to participate in the fund raising activities. Most of them responded and the fulfillment of a dream began to take shape for the first time. The Foundation board, working hand in hand with the City Council and the Recreation Commission received suggestions and recommendations from these groups and determined the general plan for the building and other facilities. The site of the McPherson Browning agreed that this would be the ideal site for the center. A goal of $175,000 was set as the figure which would provide adequate funds to do the job right.The hundreds of workers who had volunteered to assist did a magnificent job and dollars began to roll in. Three year pledges represented the bulk of the gifts.Although the goal of $175,000 has not yet been reached, the board is still soliciting funds and every week new donations are received. Follow-up committees have contacted many new people in the area and have called back on those who said that they would “wait and see” before they would commit themselves. To date the total amount pledged is nearly $165,000. Any and all donations are still most welcome and will help the Foundation complete the job they intend to do.When it was determined that enough pledges had been made actually move ahead on the project, a Building Committee was appointed to carry out the final planning, design and construction of the building, which had been assigned the tip priority in the overall projct. The outdoor facilities would come late as payments on pledges came in.Arriving at the time of groundbreaking was a long, tedious job for the Building Committee. Hundreds of decisions had to be made and many hours of work with the architect and eventual contractors were necessary before the first brick would be placed. At long last contracts were awarded and ground was broken on April 11, 1965.All during this time money was pouring in to pay the bills which would soon accumulate. Many progress reports and committee meetings were held to assure all concerned that enough dollars would be available to meet the payment of bills. Letters, phone calls and personal contacts were used to urge people to pay their pledges in full, if possible or to at least keep their payments up to date, if behind. Reasonable success was achieved, construction continued and all bills have been paid to date. Now that the building is completed, several thousand dollars will have to be borrowed to make final payments, but past performance indicates that the loan can be paid off in a reasonable time. HOWELL UNIT BENG DEEDED BACK TO CITYState Journal Livingston BureauHOWELL- All indebtedness on the Howell Recreation Center has been cleared up, making it possible to deed the facility to the city.The Howell Parks Foundation was established to receive contributions and administrate the construction of the center in 1964. The $165,000 structure was financed entirely with public donations from the city of Howell and the four surrounding townships, Marion, Howell, Oceola and Genoa. The foundation enabled the city to accept contributions from the surrounding townships and satisfy legal technicalities in the center’s construction.A special ceremony has been scheduled for Monday, nest regular Howell City Council meeting. At this time the center will be officially deeded back to the city.  DECEMBER 22, 1968