Support the Activity Center

Support • Nacogdoches, Texas

Support the Sparks Lake Activity Center

Help restore a historically meaningful community place into a safe, welcoming destination for youth programs, indoor recreation, and community events. Every gift — large or small — moves this project forward.

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Ways to Support Buy a Legacy Brick Become a Sponsor

Why Your Support Matters

The Sparks Lake Activity Center is a privately led restoration with a public heart—preserving a historic gym on the former Carpenter campus and transforming it into a safe, welcoming place for indoor recreation, youth programs, and community events.

Every gift—whether financial, in-kind, or volunteer—moves the project forward and helps protect a space that still matters to Nacogdoches.

What your support helps fund

Building restoration Safety & lighting Gym equipment Programs & events Community partnerships

Quick links

Want something lasting? Consider an engraved brick or a sponsorship that supports a specific program or feature.

Buy a Brick Sponsorships Restoration Plan

Choose a Path to Support

Legacy

Buy-a-Brick

Add your family, business, church, or team name to the commemorative walkway leading to the building—an enduring marker of unity.

Purchase a Brick →
Partnership

Sponsorship & Naming

Fund spaces, programs, and features that support youth, recreation, and community events—plus sponsor recognition options.

View Opportunities →
Community

Volunteer & In-Kind

Support with materials, equipment, skilled labor, cleanup days, event help, or services. Every contribution counts.

Offer Help →

Help Us Build the Legacy

The historic Emiline Carpenter School has been part of this community for generations. Today it is being restored and reimagined as the Sparks Lake Activity Center—a place where families gather, youth grow, and neighbors connect.

But this vision only comes to life with people like you.

We’re looking for volunteers who want to lend a hand, share their talents, and help bring new energy to this special place. Whether you can help with community events, cleanup days, small projects, mentoring programs, or simply spreading the word—every effort makes a difference.

This is more than a building project. It’s a community project.

Together we can preserve the past, strengthen the present, and create a vibrant future for the next generation.

Join us in making the Emiline Carpenter School legacy live on.

Become a Volunteer

Ways to Support

Support Options

  • Donation: One-time or recurring support to move restoration forward.
  • Brick Path: Purchase an engraved brick for the walkway to the building.
  • Sponsorship: Fund a program, space, or feature and be recognized publicly.
  • In-kind: Materials, equipment, skilled services, or volunteer time.
Receipts / invoices: Use the form to request an invoice, receipt, or a call back about donation methods.
Support Interest Form
Please complete the form below and we’ll follow up with next steps.
slac sponsor
You can use this form to request donation details, sponsor opportunities, Buy-a-Brick information, or to offer volunteer or in-kind support.

Share Historic Photos

If you have yearbooks, photos, or memorabilia connected to Emeline Carpenter School or the Leroy Street campus, we invite you to share them so this legacy can be preserved with accuracy and care.

Email what you have (and any known dates/names/context). Verified images may be credited with permission. .

Questions

Is the Activity Center open now?

Yes. The Sparks Lake Activity Center is now open for scheduled use. The basketball court and gymnasium are available by reservation for games, practices, parties, and community events.

Is this a city-owned project?

No. This is a privately led restoration with community partnership goals. Community support helps preserve the legacy and build what’s next.

How will sponsors be recognized?

Recognition can include signage, sponsor walls, digital recognition, event acknowledgments, and named program/feature opportunities. Visit the Sponsorship & Naming page for details.

Ready to Get Involved?

Whether you give, sponsor, buy a brick, or share the story—your support helps restore a place that still matters.

Buy a Brick Sponsor Learn the Plan
“Let us rise up and build.” — Nehemiah 2:18

What Pavilion Sponsorship Helps Build

When you sponsor the Covered Pavilion at SLAC, your support goes directly toward tangible, visible improvements families and the community will enjoy for years. Here’s how sponsorship funds are being put to use:

  • Concrete Pad & Foundation — a durable base for tables, seating, and flow of foot traffic.
  • Timber Frame & Roofing — high-quality materials to create a beautiful, long-lasting structure.
  • Lighting & Electrical — warm, safe illumination for evening events and gatherings.
  • Seating & Picnic Tables — comfortable, family-sized tables and benches.
  • Shade & Weather Protection — coverage from sun and light rain for all-season use.
  • Landscaping & Pathways — greenery and easy walking access from parking and nearby amenities.
  • Signage & Recognition — plaques, banners, or sponsor boards acknowledging community partners.
  • Trash & Recycling Stations — keep the space clean and welcoming after every event.
These elements are part of a thoughtful design that brings families together, supports community activities, and enhances the outdoor experience at SLAC for generations.
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Under Construction
Progress Notice: Bathrooms, dressing rooms, outdoor event spaces, and other amenities are currently being installed and may not yet be available. Some photos and layouts represent planned concepts as improvements continue. For the latest status and availability, visit /updates/.
View Updates