OGDEN — The public is one step closer to knowing what the Marshall N. White Community Center’s future will look like after last weekend’s open house at Ben Lomond High School. A series of open houses were held by the city’s Marshall White Center Advisory Committee to allow community members to choose features they would like to see incorporated into redevelopment plans.

Sean Bishop, MWC Advisory Committee chair, said VCBO Architecture is assessing information gathered during the events. The committee will present their findings to the Ogden City Council once they review the information in a meeting scheduled for March 9.

Bishop said the committee received plenty of feedback during the events with a lot of “organic traffic” at the Ben Lomond open house, as the school was the site of Junior Jazz basketball games all day Saturday, in addition to, a rival game between the Scots and the Ogden Tigers.

Bishop said it was important for the community to see inside the Ben Lomond High School Athletic Center, which also was designed by VCBO. The new Marshall White Center could be similar, in theory, he said.

As a community center, the gymnasium is often rented out for various events and activities. MWC staff are also requesting a space to hold events, separate from indoor sports.

According to Bishop, extra space for events is of top priority among residents who participated in community surveys in the spring of 2021, upon the city council’s request.

VCBO presented two options to the public during the open houses. A larger area for indoor sports and a pool were two of the most commonly requested features by residents. Regardless of whether it’s an indoor or outdoor pool, Bishop said there needs to be a public pool in Ogden.

“I see the void, and it’s just unacceptable,” he said.

Bishop said he started paying close attention when a large swim group for seniors was left with no place to go after the center’s pool was deemed unsafe. The pool has remained closed since 2018.

In a messaging document drafted by MWC supporters, they claim historic neglect of the recreation center and the conversation to improve it has been happening for decades.

“People are so tired of this fight,” Bishop said.

Owned and operated by the city, the MWC is the only community center offering low-cost programs, classes, activities, events and resources in Ogden. It has been a resource to the Jefferson neighborhood since it opened in 1963.

“It’s vital to this community,” Bishop said.

The center is not only named after fallen Ogden Police Officer Marshall N. White, it is the first building to be named after a Black man in the state of Utah, according to Ogden City.

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