On September 7, 2022, the Board of Supervisors met to discuss the options worked up by  Architectural Partners for construction of a Recreation Center and playing  fields for construction of land owned adjacent to the middle school and high school as well as the Larkin property which was purchased by the County in August of 2022.  

Option 1 includes in the recreation center: 

1.  an 8 lane interior competition pool with play and diving areas 

1. 4 multi-purpose rooms for meetings, activities, programs, child watch 

1. Gymnasium with full basketball court and multiple cross courts 

1. Multi lane interior walking track 

1. Gymnastics Room 

1. Climbing Wall 

1. Fitness area 

1. Free weights area  

1. Aerobics 

1. Wrestling practice Room  

1. eSports Room 

1. Rental Room with Kitchen 

 

The site costs includes roads, parking , lighting , landscaping and finished fields, playground, splash park and trails . Total cost is estimated currently to be $64,800,000  and that cost has increased since December 2021 and is expected to continue to increase. The Recreation cost exclusive of the fields and site preparation is $34,600,000.  

Option 2 includes 

1. an 8 lane interior competition pool with play and diving areas 

1. 2 multi-purpose rooms for meetings, activities, programs, child watch 

1. Gymnasium with full basketball court and multiple cross courts 

1. Gymnastics Room 

 
The site costs includes roads, parking , lighting , landscaping and finished fields, playground, splash park and trails . The cost has cost has increased since December 2021 and is expected to continue to increase. The Recreation cost exclusive of the fields and site preparation is $26,900,000. 

Option 3 includes 

1. an exterior 8 lane competition pool with play and diving areas 

1. 2 multi-purpose rooms for meetings, activities, programs, child watch 

1. Gymnasium with full basketball court and multiple cross courts 

1. Gymnastics Room 

The site costs includes roads, parking , lighting , landscaping and finished fields, playground, splash park and trails . The cost has cost has increased since December 2021 and is expected to continue to increase. The Recreation cost exclusive of the fields and site preparation is $19,200,0 

 

Option 4 includes 

1. an interior 8 lane competition pool with play and diving areas 

 

The site costs includes roads, parking , lighting , landscaping and finished fields, playground, splash park and trails . The cost has cost has increased since December 2021 and is expected to continue to increase. The Recreation cost exclusive of the fields and site preparation is $13,700,000. 

 

Option 5 includes 

1. an exterior 8 lane competition pool with play areas and no diving (pool would not be as deep)and pool support building only which would have rest rooms/locker rooms, pool office, training room, concessions, equipment/ storage rooms. 

The site costs includes roads, parking , lighting , landscaping and finished fields, playground, splash park and trails . The cost has cost has increased since December 2021 and is expected to continue to increase. The Recreation cost exclusive of the fields and site preparation is $4,700,000. 

 

Option 6 includes: 

 

1. an exterior 8 lane competition pool with play areas and no diving (pool would not be as deep) 

1. inflatable cover for year round use of pool 

1. pool support building only which would have rest rooms/locker rooms, pool office, training room, concessions, equipment/ storage rooms. 

            The site costs includes roads, parking , lighting , landscaping and finished fields, playground, splash park and trails . The cost has cost has increased since December 2021 and is expected to continue to increase. The Recreation cost exclusive of the fields and site preparation is $5,600,000. 

 

The proposed new outdoor facility  includes  

1. 3-4 Baseball /Softball fields 325 ft fence portable fencing for 225ft fence,(1 baseball and one multi use field to be lit)  

1. 2 multipurpose  fields with includes sign lines and bleachers.  

1. A basketball court and 2 tennis/pickleball court 

1. Open play greenspace ( minimum one acre)  

1. Event stage for small performances 

1. Multi age playground with 3 bays swing (6 swings) , 2 separate age appropriate play structures, zip line, multiple stand alone  paly apparatus, Parking for minimum of 250 cars , multiple lots for different fields access 

1. I concession stand to include kitchen, supplies storage, restrooms 

1. Minimum  of 1 60x 30 shelter, 8 picnic tables 

1. Maintenance shed  to house; 2 zero turn lawnmowers, infield groomer, paint machines, UTV, field supplies, small office for park staff,  

1. Trails and Disc golf course 

 

As a part of the reports, potential revenue  from the use of the fields, shelters, etc. were listed and as well as classes teaching skills like tennis, pickleball, and the fees associated with hosting sports tournaments and the taxes derived from food consumption and lodging and tourist shopping.  

 

A copy of the proposals discussed herein can acquired from your supervisor and they have more detail and floor plan drawings.   

 

The board generally discussed the options within their numbers and with employees of various affected groups. The current additional debt capacity for 2023-2024 is $40,200,000 - $41,900,000.  The board members expressed concern about the affordable housing issue and how that problem is associated with utilization of the proposed facilities,  and discussed the need for such facilities to help encourage business and people who can work from home to move to Nelson and the part the facility could play in providing childcare to the citizens of the county through a group like the YMCA.  Mr. Harvey stated he doubted that the citizens of the North District would have any interest in the project proposals. Another special meeting will be called in November 2022 with a view with adopting a plan.  In the interim, surveys will be sent out for public .  THE PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO RESPOND AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO THE SURVEYS AND CONTACT YOUR BOARD MEMBERS WITH YOUR THOUGHTS.