Kuentz Recreation Center in SCW

Kuentz Recreation Center in Sun City West

The Kuentz Recreation Center, 14401 R.H. Johnson Blvd., was the third recreation center built in Sun City West.
When it officially opened in January 1989, it was intended to be the final recreation center to be constructed in the community. Several years later, the Del Webb Corporation purchased additional land to expand Sun City West and a fourth recreation center — Palm Ridge — was constructed. The Kuentz Center was named after Fred P. Kuentz, a senior vice president for the Del E. Webb Corporation and president of the Del E. Webb Development Company. As president of DEVCO, Mr. Kuentz oversaw the early development of Sun City West.  When it opened, the facility featured the 300-seat Stardust Theatre, as well as craft rooms, an outdoor pool, exercise rooms, tennis courts and more. The community celebrated the center’s opening with day-long festival  on Feb. 10, 1989, that featured entertainment by the Bouncing Czechs Polka Band and the Sparky Thurman Orchestra. The community’s softball field was also constructed a few years later at the center.

Archive photos courtesy of the Sun Cities Area Historical Society. Current photo by Bret McKeand/Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA