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The process to get approval for construction of a new recreation center has been going on for over a decade, said Scott Henderson, Provo City assistant director for recreation.
Henderson said two feasibility studies have been conducted since 2000. Both revealed favorable support from the community. He said the community approved a $39 billion bond last November and plans for construction were made official.
Henderson said the bond is all-inclusive, meaning it not only includes the cost of construction and design but the furniture, water and administration costs.
“All along we’ve listened to the residents,” Mayor John Curtis said in a news release. “Since the bond passed last November, we’ve tried to maximize the funds as much as possible. In many ways, this is a great deal for the city.”
Helen Anderson, the community relations and public information officer for Provo City, said the groundbreaking went great and there was a lot of community support.
“Construction is expected to take 18 months to complete,” she said. She added the recreation center is set to open in early 2013.
Eldred Seniors Center, The Center and Provo’s current recreation center near Provo High School will remain open during construction. A handout on Provo.org titled “Rec Center Project” said all of these centers have a variety of issues, including structural and code problems and will eventually be demolished.
Anderson said Veteran’s Memorial Pool will not be demolished but parts of the center will be updated.
Local community members and former employees are excited at the prospect of a new rec center. Karissa Baker, a music education major from Orem and a former lifeguard for Provo Parks and Recreation, said the new recreation center will benefit the entire community.
“I’m excited about the new rec center,” Baker said. “The current facility has been around forever. The city takes good care of it, but you can tell it’s getting old. I think the new building will provide the community with a lot more recreational opportunities and more space.”
Henderson said Provo officials are hoping the new facility will appeal to every age group. The facility will feature an updated senior citizen center, state of the art exercise equipment and two separate swimming areas — one for competitive lap swimmers and a family pool with a lazy river, climbing wall and water slides.
“We are really trying to hit the community at large and make sure the amenities hit all the targets,” Henderson said.
He said prices will be comparable to recreation centers in Orem and Lehi. Special discounts for families and students have also been discussed.
“There has been lots of conversation in making the fees student friendly,” Henderson said. “There has been talk of giving three and five month options that are more in line with the length of a semester.”
Henderson said the city hopes to make disruptions in the construction area as minimal as possible. He said there is an action plan developed for getting vehicles on and off the site as clean as possible so they are not taking material on the road.
The site of the new rec center will be at 320 W. 500 North. Updates can be found at Provo.org.
