
Dawson Community Center: A welcoming, old-school hub for sports, events, and community in San Antonio
Dawson Community Center in San Antonio is a versatile sports and community hub. The rec room has hosted baby showers, and the facility offers clinics, including a free 'Elite Soccer Clinic', plus youth basketball tournaments. Reviewers praise friendly staff like Angie, a well-kept facility, and an inviting, old-school atmosphere, though some note coaching punctuality concerns.
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Free and paid clinics for soccer, basketball, and other sports to develop skills in a supportive setting.
Affordable rental of rec rooms and facilities for private events like baby showers, parties, and meetings.
Organized youth basketball tournaments and leagues focused on novice players and team building.
Day camps and activities for children during school breaks, promoting recreation and social interaction.
Various drop-in activities and programs designed to engage families and individuals in active play.
Overall rating
laura Mae
VINNY Cuz EGIDIO
It has a playground, ballfield,basketball
ericAAA
Under estimated facility. It has a great positive, old-school edition, atmosphere and attitude. Enjoy bringing my son here.
Jennifer Salazar
Went to this facility for a city wide community center youth basketball tournament. I was very disappointed in the workers who are supposed to be San Antonio Youth Advisors. First off, there was a older hispanic man who was passive aggressive staring down a female because she was talking to her OWN child during a basketball game. This mother was nowhere near any other children, I'm going to say a good 20 feet from any other human being. The hispanic man informed the mother that she could not check on her son and insisted he would throw her out of the facility if she did not listen. As any mother should do, she disregarded the "passive aggressive old man" and talked to her son for about 1 minute and then proceeded back to her bleacher seat. The community hourly employee STARED her down as if she was a criminal in a jail house field. It was like he was going to put his hands on her, it was a typical hispanic male power trip. I wish I would have asked for the man's name cause his behavior and unacceptable tactics to try to intimidate the mother was not something any female/person should go through. (especially from a City Recreation Facility worker). Secondly, the environment that Dawson Community Center put these kids in was very eye opening. As I understand the San Antonio Youth Basketball League should be a learning process for kids. The kids on the team should be novice players who just started playing. At this facility there was no teaching being done. The refs were not doing a great job and tensions were high. Two players pushed each other and were thrown out the game in the third quarter. As an educator/coach myself, I take elementary conflicts like the one seen as a TEACHING and LEARNING moment. Unfortunately, the two best players of both teams were instead thrown out. Please know there were no punches thrown, no reluctancy from either player on their bad behavior, one player was crying and immediately showed remorse for participating in such behavior. It was very sad to see that the adults/community workers who should be TEACHING during these moments, instead decided to dismiss both players. In middle school, high school, and even NBA games no player is thrown out for a shove. Both players should have received technicals, should have been counseled/reprimanded for their behavior and the COACH should have been allowed to discipline each of their own. Throwing a child/player out was not the LESSON to be taught here. In contrary it was a GREAT teaching moment. Self control, high stress basketball, keeping your composure to stay in the game is the lesson that should have been taught. Finally, the "security" bald hispanic man (or very little hair) should not be allowed to work at a COMMUNITY CENTER if he cannot control how he tries to intimate people. The refs need more direction in how to call the novice level games to help control emotions of both players and parents. The community center managers need to go to coaching clinics to help with running and maintaining a good league. Now I realize you get what you pay for. This ten dollar league should have surpassed any expectations I had. I mean it was just ten dollars. But, being an AAU parent, TYFA parent, and CYS parent, I am always in the environment of teaching and learning. I guess I expected a lot more from a SAN ANTONIO League who uses tax money and grants for the betterment of San Antonio. The higher ups need to look into the consistency of their different recreational centers and ensure the safety of all players and parents. The hourly employees need to make sure they remember they are just that, they DO NOT own the facility. They are there for the kids and should be ensuring their safety at all times. This center is not a safe place for children. If you want to be dictated and mistreated I would recommend for you to attend.
Terri Showers
The Community Center has really improved over the years. They have more activities.
lupita Enriquez