Last month, construction on the planned Lincoln University/Parks and Recreation Wellness and Multipurpose Recreation Center began on Lafayette Street.
However, there are still many unknowns with the project, and the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission is hesitant to provide answers.
After months of planning and closed-door discussions, the commission and Lincoln University announced in mid-September approval of an operating agreement for the planned multipurpose and wellness center on Lafayette Street.
The building will be jointly owned and built on the south end of Lincoln's main campus, along Lafayette Street opposite the Jefferson City High School complex. It will house four basketball courts, a walking track, common/concessions areas and an LU-controlled second floor with a fitness area, classrooms, offices and a game suite.
The contract between LU and parks spells out some details of how the building will operate, while other details of the day-to-day operations still must be determined.
After the construction contract for the $11.5 million facility was awarded Dec. 15 to Sircal Contracting Inc., the News Tribune reached out to Denise Chapel, president of the Parks and Recreation Commission, asking for a breakdown of where the money for the project is coming from within the parks budget, as well as asking about the commission's intent for staff offices and whether those would move to the new facility, as city officials have declared an intent to use the annex, where staff offices are currently located, for other purposes in the future.
On Dec. 23, Chapel responded in an email: "The commission has approved moving staff with the caveat that we can afford it. That was not a critical path item that was necessary to award a construction contract. All costs and cost-saving measures will continue to be under review by the Parks and Recreation Commission and Lincoln University."
Since that date, the News Tribune has made multiple efforts, through emails and phone calls, to get answers to several questions concerning the project. By late Friday afternoon, Chapel had responded to some of the questions but left others unanswered.
Chapel did not answer questions about how the commission came to approve moving staff to the new facility; whether an official vote was taken and when; and, if it was not approved with a formal vote, how the commission had that discussion without being in open, public session.
"That decision will be based on affordability and the needs of the center," Chapel said. "We approved the design/floor plan, which included office space for all parks staff. If the needs of the facility or the financials necessitate that we rethink that, because it is not a critical path item, we will address that when/if the need arises."
The News Tribune had requested a copy of final floor plans or blueprints, as construction on the site has begun, but Chapel said, "We are hesitant to release final floor plans until they are indeed final. We do not want it to represent an item that we cannot afford. We will distribute it freely upon finalization by both parties."
Now that construction has begun, Chapel said the commission can begin to discuss programming at the new facility, adding those discussions will be led by the new department director, Todd Spalding. She did not specify further when asked about a timeline.
The commission also had solicited public input on the Wellness Center through the city website, where a form is available to submit an idea for the facility. When asked how the submissions have been, whether the commission has looked at them and if there will be any open discussion of those submissions, Chapel said they have been reviewed by staff and "will be incorporated into the public discussions so that we can address all requests and not duplicate efforts."
Requests to provide a breakdown of the project budget to see exactly where the funding is coming from within the Parks budget, line by line, went unanswered.
Ideas for the planned Wellness Center
Last fall, the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission began accepting ideas for the planned multipurpose/wellness center. Since then, a few submissions have been received through the city website. The News Tribune received copies of all ideas submitted through mid-January through a Sunshine Law request.
There's still time to submit your idea for the facility at www.jeffersoncitymo.gov/share_your_idea_for_the_center.php.
• "My idea for the Jeff City Wellness Center is that we could teach either a one-hour intro talk which we provide for free, or we could offer a mediation workshop to learn the practice. ... Ascension is a very easy meditative practice that allows one to be more focused and concentrated."
• "I'd love to hear what's been thought of thus far, then give my thoughts!"
• "Idea for additional use of the basketball courts during fall/winter season - there is currently no youth futsal league in Mid-Missouri (only available in KC, STL and Springfield). Futsal is a form of indoor soccer. ... I believe this would attract teams from all over the Mid-Missouri area."
• "The biggest concern I hear from everyone is that the students will have it reserved 90 percent of the time, making it to where it can't be used by the community. I also understand that there is some debate going on who should manage the facility, Parks and Rec or Lincoln. I know that part of the reason the community needed this facility was so that there were places for the parks and rec leagues to play their volleyball, basketball, etc. games and to have places to practice. This can't be left up to a first-come, first-served basis. I believe that certain nights should be set up for Parks and Rec use and certain nights for LU, i.e.: Monday's and Wednesday's (for) LU and Tuesday's and Thursday's (for) Parks and Rec, leaving weekends open for first-come, first-served rentals."
• "If the center is not going to be open to the public and have limited access to certain levels, then the city should not be contributing to the project."
• "Biggest questions is why? If Lincoln University students require this facility, then let the university provide it. Where is a needs statement of study/planning conducted to demonstrate the need for this facility? Jeff City Parks and Rec does not need to become involved in gym ownership provided to university students!"
• "It would be nice to see this facility have the ability to run dual volleyball courts, with a divider between the two. So more than one team could practice, or scrimmage at the same time. It would be nice to see that there would be equipment for teams to use to practice with, i.e. enough volleyballs for a whole team to practice with."
• "Jefferson City has great potential to host basketball tournaments. Would bring in lots of out of town teams with families that spend money. Please consider using this facility to host basketball tournaments."
• "Has anyone ever thought about including an on-campus storage facility for the students/faculty? Perhaps incorporate it in with the new/proposed multipurpose center in some way?"