The North Lakes Recreation Center in northwest Denton reopened July 27 after a three-week closure, recreation staff said. The facility was the first of three Denton recreation centers to temporarily close for maintenance over the summer.

The details: Previous Community Impact reporting states the recreation center closed July 6 so the facility could receive new bathroom floors, new lockers, fresh paint and undergo a deep cleaning throughout the site.

City staff said the work at North Lakes cost about $70,000. 

The recreation center offers a gym, basketball, pickle ball and volleyball courts and a childcare area. 

Zooming out: In June, city officials announced three recreation centers would temporarily close for maintenance over the summer. North Lakes was the first of the three to close. 

Maintenance updates for all three recreation centers total about $310,000.

RaceTrac is spending nearly $20 million to remodel 30 stores in North Texas, according to a company news release.

The specifics: The remodeled stores began reopening in May and will continue to reopen through the end of the year. Remodels include the following updates:

• A full grab-and-go pizza bar

• A redesigned coffee area

• A refreshed Swirl World frozen yogurt bar

• Updated interior graphics, signage, paint and décor throughout

• Reorganized shelving

Five locations in Plano, four in Frisco, two in Fort Worth and one each in Allen, Denton and McKinney are among the RaceTracs set for a remodel.

A new James Avery location is coming to Denton, and a pool supply store will start construction in Trophy Club. Check out five of the latest construction permits filed around the metroplex.

3400 at Cityline renovation
A corporate office space at 3400 at Cityline, an office park, will undergo about $12 million in renovations, according to TDLR documents. The documents state the project will cover about 36,000 square feet and cost $12 million. 

• Location: 3400 N. Central Expressway, Ste. 470, Richardson
• Estimated timeline: Aug. 31-Dec. 31
• Estimated cost: $12 million

• Location: 1732 S. Loop 288, Ste. 100, Denton
• Estimated timeline: Sept. 28, 2026-Jan. 11 2027
• Estimated cost: $423,800

Tarrant County College will launch a bachelor’s program in early childhood education this fall, according to a news release from the college.

The details: The four-year program is Tarrant County College’s first bachelor’s degree program and is designed for students who have finished an Associate of Arts degree in teaching, an Associate of Applied Science degree in early childhood education or another associate degree with qualifying electives, according to the release.

Combined with a two-year associate degree, the two-year program will prepare students for teacher certification in either early childhood through third grade or early childhood education through sixth grade.

The bachelor’s degree program in early childhood education and teaching is part of TCC’s initiative to have layered credits that allow students to build on prior coursework for career advancement without having to start a new degree program.

The backstory: Tarrant County College is a public, tax-supported community college district funded heavily by local property taxes. The community college offers numerous associate degrees, technical certifications and core academic transfer courses for universities.