It’s been 14 years since the Wellness Center in the southeast corner of town was constructed. It has served its purpose well for exercise enthusiasts, water therapy patients, and those in need of physical therapy – but it’s time for an upgrade. Eagle Grove City Administrator Bryce Davis, in a coordinated effort with the Rotary Club of Eagle Grove, the Parks and Recreation Board, as well as other various community members and organizations, are excited to announce it looks like those changes – expansion, will be happening soon.
The campaign is currently at $2.6 million raised/pledged, according to Davis.
“We’re only about $200,000 short of being able to both build it and furnish it,” he said enthusiastically.
Initially, the project is being run under a non-profit umbrella which allows them to work directly with a design/build team. This means that they design it per code, but they also incorporate cost estimates and knowledge of the building foresight. It allows them to break down the project and select specific people to work with when choosing flooring, equipment, etc. rather than the contractor choosing them.
“This gives us a little more flexibility,” said Davis.
They have already decided that one of the businesses they will be working with has Eagle Grove ties. EGHS graduate Luke Reiland of “Push, Pedal, Pull” in Ankeny will be designing the weight room.
“He will receive a blank canvas. He will be able to design the weight room in terms of where the weights, machines, etc. are going to go based on flow and what he sees in his profession,” said Davis.
This will also determine where outlets need to go based on where the equipment will sit so Reiland’s specifications will be taken back to the general contractor to work into the plans of the building for how much power is needed and where it is needed.
“Our whole goal is to develop a project that is within our price points. It’s a different approach, but it allows us to piece-meal the project together and stay within our targeted price point,” explained Davis.
“There’s a lot we can do to cut cost, but we also want to be conscious of putting things where they need to be and building the right facility that best fits the needs of the community, now and in the future, while still staying within budget,” said Davis.
From an operational standpoint, the non-profit organization will enter into an asset transfer agreement with the Rotary Club for the Wellness Center and the additional ground needed to build to the facility. The City will enter into a management agreement with a nonprofit board (like Eagle’s Wings) where the city maintains the employment of Eagle Grove Parks and Recreation Director Zach Whipple, who has been named to manage the facility. He will answer to the board when it comes to the facility. The board will also be responsible for all hiring and operational aspects of the facility. Whipple will be responsible to work with the board to schedule youth sporting tournaments, increase membership, etc.
With only $200,000 left to raise, Davis is optimistic that the community will support this project financially, big or small, and the building process can still get started this fall. They are currently in the process of signing the preconstruction design agreement. That process takes about 60 days. On day 45, they will reach out to the suppliers for equipment like basketball hoops, batting cages, flooring suppliers, Reiland for his input, concession stand equipment providers, etc. After all of this is figured out, they can start working on the building package which takes about eight weeks to arrive. Davis said that most likely it will be a steel frame structure. “Our goal this fall, pending a successful fundraising campaign, is to move dirt and install the underground infrastructure. Right now, we believe footings and foundations will be poured in the spring,” said Davis.
He projects that this will be a four to five month build, finishing the project up in Fall of 2021. That means indoor sports/practices/tournaments could start fall of next year.
“Our plans are then to start going vertical with the building in spring of 2021,” he added.
If you are interested in making a donation, you can find a pledge form on the Eagle Grove Chamber of Commerce website which can be sent to Zach Whipple at City Hall, or you can just give him a call there.
“I’m pretty confident this Rec Center is going to happen,” Davis said.
He admits it may not be everything they would like to see right from the start (maybe starting with only one basketball court versus two for example), but they will keep options available for expansion/additions as more money comes in. He would even like to see such additions as dance/tumbling classes and/or exercise/yoga classes. Either way, the community will have a new rec center that will bring a lot of added value to our hometown and our people.
