Following World War II, the City of San Antonio purchased two tracts of land that had been part of the United States Government’s South San Antonio Factory Sites. The City Council passed an ordinance on March 18, 1948, to pay the government $15,393 for the “South San Antonio Recreation property.” The property included frame structures built prior to the war in approximately 1939. During the war, the buildings had been used by the U.S.O. as a place where soldiers and airmen could have fun and relax in their off-duty hours. After the City acquired the property, military personnel continued to frequent the facility that was called the South San Antonio Recreation Center.
The old recreation center was renovated and painted in 1959, and in 1963, walks, a parking area, and landscaping were installed. Following two fires within a two-month time frame in 1984, the facility was demolished and replaced with a new building. At that time, approximately $627,000 was spent to provide a gymnasium, office, storage room, arts and crafts room, restrooms, parking areas and sidewalks. The new South San Antonio Community Center reopened on September 27, 1986. The Community Center occupies a 1.3-acre park site.