Hours of Operation
M-Th 12pm - 10pm
F 12pm - 6pm
Sa 10am - 4pm
Su Closed

Site Supervisor: Victor L. Davis
Program Coordinator: Douglas D. Elliott
Program Specialist: Desi Castillo
Program Specialist: Snail Mendoza
Facility Grounds Assistant: Manuel Hernandez

History
In June 1942, the first and only Latin-American Center was opened at 3rd and Comal Streets. The center was run under the auspices of the Federated Latin-American Club and directed by the Austin Recreation Department. A contest was later held to name the facility, and the winning name chosen by the executive committee was the "Pan American Recreation Center". On September 7, 1956, a new Pan American Recreation Center was formally dedicated at 2100 East 3rd Street, just west of the old location and where it currently exists today. The building adjoins Zavala School and was built at a cost of $155,261. The Hillside Theater was later built and completed in June 1958.

In 1996, the center was named in honor of Oswaldo "A.B." Cantu, but still retains the original name Pan American to be known as the A.B. Cantu/Pan American Recreation Center. A.B. Cantu was a lifetime advocate of youth and amateur boxing in Austin. He was an employee of the Parks and Recreation Department for 28 years and was heavily involved in providing East Austin youth recreational activities. He founded the Pan American Boxing Club at the new center in 1956 when it officially opened.

Second Floor Addition
In 1998, the Austin voters approved over $2 million in Capital Improvement funds to build a second story to the A.B. Cantu/Pan American Recreation Center for expansion of the building's space for recreational programs. It was placed on the November bond election ballot at the urging of East Austin Community members. The project consisted of the renovation of the existing single story area and the addition of a new second floor. All exterior walls were torn out leaving only the existing perimeter walls and the existing single story portion of the building. Today the new building is ADA accessible and has an additional 6,314 feet. The new addition has a dance studio, computer lab and a multipurpose area. The existing gym was also given a facelift with a new wooden floor.

The park surrounding the recreation center is 5.3 acres. The amenities include a multipurpose sports field, outdoor tennis and basketball courts, newly renovated playscape area, wading pool and hillside stage.

Activities are offered year round for children and adults to include basketball, volleyball, boxing, fastpitch softball, wrestling,ceramics, Afterschool Program, Day Camp, Totally Cool Totally Art, P.E.E.R.S. (Teen Club), Ballet Folklorico, Mother's Day Out and more.

2008 Summer Hillside Concerts
Lineup
Date	Day	Time	Performer	Time	Performer	Time	Performer	Time	Performer
June 24th	Thursday	7:00pm	Trio Los Pinky	8:00pm	Chingo Bling	8:30pm	AJ & The Texas Five
July 1st	Tuesday	7pm	DJ Mix’n Mojica	9pm	Jesse Botello Y Ritmo Tejano
July 8th	Tuesday	7:00pm	Cantu Pan Am Ballet Folklorico	7:30pm	Mariachi Relampago	8:30pm	Dueto Musical Armonnia Dos	9pm	Mariachi Texas
July 15th	Tuesday	7:00pm	Hayden Vitera	8:30pm	GAHCC Education Foundation	9pm	Hayden Vitera
July 22nd	Tuesday	7:00pm	Myrna	8:30pm	DJ Mix’n Mojica	9pm	Myrna
July 29th	Tuesday	7:00pm	Los T Birds, Los Texas & Frank Gomez
August 5th	Tuesday	7pm	AT Boyz & Ruben Ramos