A potential partnership between the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department and Lincoln University is moving forward as both entities continue work on collaborative multipurpose building.
At the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting Tuesday, Bill Lockwood, department director, said negotiations and discussions on the collaboration are moving forward, and the next step would be to get into the memorandum of understanding, which would help identify how operating the facility would work.
Last month, the commission authorized department staff to pursue a potential collaboration with Lincoln University on a proposed multipurpose building. If the partnership is pursued, the facility would operate as both a multipurpose facility and a student recreational facility on Lafayette Street.
The commission has been working toward construction of a multipurpose building, but has struggled with the project's budget. The department has identified roughly $5 million for the facility, but commission members have indicated a desire for a facility that likely would cost closer to $8 million. The commission has previously identified Riverside Park, on the city's east side, as the location for a multipurpose building.
Lockwood said the memorandum of understanding would help determine how costs and revenues would be split between the two entities, how reinvestment in the property would work throughout later years, who would operate the facility and even hours of operation.
Lockwood said he hopes to have a draft operating agreement by the end of the year so both entities can make a final decision on the potential partnership.
The commission also heard a presentation from Cary Gampher, with Architects Alliance, on preliminary plans for the facility. Though that presentation was on the agenda for open session, it was moved to closed session under the provision for contract negotiations.
In other business, the commission approved several program fee adjustments for swim lessons, pool rentals and day camps. All swim lessons will increase by $1 and private pool rentals will increase by $5. Day camp fees will see varying increases for each camp with increases ranging from a $6.50 increase to a $12 increase.