Provo City

Rec Center History and Status


The Municipal Council has placed a general obligation bond election on the ballot for November 2, 2010 for the voters of Provo to consider funding a new recreation center in Provo. This page is designed to keep the community up to date on the recreation center bonding proposal as decisions are made along the way.
 
September 7, 2010
The Municipal Council held a public hearing on September 7 relating to placement of the bond issue on the November 2 ballot. Following the public hearing, the Council voted unanimously to place the general obliugation bond issue on the ballot.
 
In addition, the City announced two upcoming public information meetings about the recreation center bond issue. The public information meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, September 14, and Tuesday, October 26, at 7 p.m., in the Municipal Council Chambers of the City Center, 351 W. Center St.
 
June 15, 2010
The Municipal Council held a public hearing and adopted a resolution requesting that the Utah Lieutenant Governor place a bond issue for up to $39 million to construct and equip a community recreation center at North Park (400 West 500 North) on the November ballot. The Council also debated a second ballot proposition to bond for $8 million for various park and recreation facilities in Provo, but did not take action on that proposal. If the $8 million proposal moves forward, it will be discussed at a future Council meeting. 
 
June 1, 2010
The Municipal Council held a work meeting and a study meeting to discuss the possible bond election. The presentation and discussion at the work meeting centered around three alternatives for the bond. In order to move the discussion forward to the study meeting later that evening, the Council agreed to consider a $47 million bond which would fund: 
  • New community recreation center at North Park and demolition of the current Recreation Center, Eldred Senior Center and The Center
  • A fieldhouse addition to the Peaks Ice Arena including tennis courts, gymnasium, sport court, walking track and small fitness area
  • Additions and enhancements to City park facilities as funds may be available
The cost of the $47 million bond would total about $96 per year (or $8 per month) for the owner of a $200,000 residence in Provo. However, the general obligation bond for the Library at Academy Square, which currently costs that same home owner about $46 per year will be paid off in four years. The bond issue would be “wrapped around” the Library bond so that in the first four years, the Recreation bond would add about $50 per year and would expand to the full $96 per year after the Library bonds are paid off. So the total bond payments for the Library bond and the Recreation bond together would be level over 20 years.
 
At the Council study meeting, the Council heard a presentation about the possible bond election at the $47 million level and decided to call for a public hearing on June 15 to consider the final scope of the bond election and to potentially adopt a resolution calling for the election. 
 
May 4, 2010
At the work meeting on May 4, the City staff presented a report on the next steps associated with the community recreation center. The presentation was geared around reaching conclusions on two main issues: (1) whether the Council wanted to use savings generated in the Library operating fund to pay off the Library bonds early, freeing up bond capacity for the community recreation center and (2) the appropriate term of the possible recreation bond. The Council determined to not take fund balance from the Library operating fund to pay bonds off early, recognizing the need for additional funds at the Library for making building improvements as time goes on, and also determined that a 20 year term on the recreation center bonds was preferable.
 
The Council also considered five possible scenarios for the recreation bond. These included:
  • A $47 million bond to construct a new community recreation center and expand the Peaks Ice Arena to construct tennis courts, a gymnasium, a fitness area, a walking track and additional spectator seating
  • A $39 million bond to construct only the community recreation center as proposed in the Feasibility Study
  • A $34 million bond to construct the community recreation center, but eliminating the competitive swimming pool from the center
  • A $33 million bond to construct the community recreation center, but eliminating the competitive swimming pool and one gymnasium from the center
  • A $30 million bond to construct the community recreation center, but eliminating the competitive swimming pool, a multi-sport court and one gymnasium from the center 
 
March 9, 2010
The final version of the Community Recreation Center Feasibility Study was presented to the Municipal Council. The study called for a $39 million cost for the new center, including design and construction. The center would include a leisure aquatics center, lap pool, competition swim pool, fitness areas, two gymnasiums, a multi-sports court, racquetball courts, a jogging track, locker rooms and a senior activity center.
 
The study also pointed out that the demand for new indoor recreation facilities could not all be met in one location. The City was advised to look for opportunities to construct additional facilities such as indoor tennis courts, fitness and gymnasium space at another location, possibly by expanding the existing Peaks Ice Arena facility on East Center Street.
  
The feasibility study also concluded that by demolishing the existing recreation center, senior center and The Center, the general operating subsidy for the new facility would be $200,000 per year less than the current subsidy. This savings would come from having a new facility and a centralized staffing model.
  
February 9, 2010
At its work meeting, the Municipal Council reviewed the results of our citizen survey. Among the findings in the survey was strong support for a new community recreation center. 
 
Late 2008 – November 2009
The City commissioned VCBO Architects of Salt Lake City to undertake a comprehensive recreation center feasibility study. Over the subsequent 14 months, the consultants conducted a mail survey, public open houses and focus group meetings to determine the needs for additional recreation facilities in Provo.