The Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission is moving forward on a joint multipurpose facility with Lincoln University, but many details have yet to be worked out.
At Tuesday's commission meeting, department director Bill Lockwood said university officials hope to take a cost-share agreement for architect services for construction of the facility to the Lincoln University Board of Curators for approval in February. The agreement, which has not been finalized, specifies each organization would be responsible for half of the architect's costs.
"The overall process, I think, is moving ahead reasonably well," Lockwood said.
In October, the commission authorized department staff to pursue a potential collaboration with Lincoln University on a proposed multipurpose building where it would operate as both a multipurpose facility and a student recreational facility on Lafayette Street.
Between Lincoln University and the parks commission, $10.1 million is available for the collaborative project. Within the existing budget, the two entities can afford a three-court facility, but commission members have said they would prefer to see a four-court facility that could attract outside tournaments and meet the needs of existing, as well as future, programs.
The total project, with four courts and an elevated walking track, is projected to cost between $11.5 and $13.8 million, leaving a funding gap of $706,000 to $2.98 million, which led the City Council to approve a $1.5 million line of credit in December.
Lockwood said university and parks officials are meeting frequently to discuss the details of the project, such as hours of operation, staffing levels and finances. Among the most important aspects yet to be identified are the operational cost of the facility, the expected revenue shortfall and how that can be covered, Lockwood said.
"These are the kinds of things we're talking to each other about," Lockwood said. "I think we're learning things each time we meet that answers some questions and raises others."
Lincoln University still is hoping to complete the project by the fall 2016 semester because current students are being charged a fee to construct the facility.