An artist's rendering of the new Airway Heights Recreation Center. Voters approved a $13 million bond last August to begin construction work on the project.
Airway Heights residents have something to look forward to in the next couple of years - the completion of a recreational center.
In August, residents approved a $13 million unlimited tax general obligation bond proposal -503-320 votes- that will fund construction of Phase 1 of a facility to be built on 70 acres of land located north of the city, south of Deno Road. The city's commitment to provide a recreation center for its residents and the passing of the bond is the No. 1 top news story of 2016.
Phase 1 of the project includes a 35,000 square foot building with a group exercise room, an aquatic center, birthday party rental rooms, multi-purpose room and associated kitchen, administrative office, storage space, child watch area and seven acres of outdoor multi-purpose field space.
The way the bond works is homeowners with a $100,000 house will pay an additional $11.56 per month in property taxes. A resident with a $200,000 home will pay an extra $23.21 per month.
The city attempted to pass a similar proposal in 2004 that would have funded construction of a recreation center. It failed, 206-118.
"It (the 2004 bond proposal) got beat pretty good," J.C. Kennedy, parks, recreation and community services director, said in a July 7 interview. "It had a significantly larger impact on homeowners' property taxes. There were less people in the community back then."
As the city's population grew, staff continued to present the idea of a recreation complex to the community. In an April 2014 survey conducted by the city, 70 percent of the 212 respondents listed a recreation center as either "essential or very important."
The project will provide short and long-term economic benefits to the city, proponents say. It will create numerous construction jobs once a contractor is awarded the project. It will also make Airway Heights more appealing to companies wanting to establish their business on the West Plains.
The recreation center's design also includes a pool with a water slide, a state of the art fitness facility, a gymnasium with multi-purpose space, rooms for meetings and parties, a child watch area and a lounge. The plan is to have the facility open year-round for residents and visitors.
The city is working with Hill International Inc., to submit an application to the state's project review committee to use a design-build method for the project's design and construction.
The bond is not the only funding mechanism for the recreation center and its operations. In May, the city received a $200,000 state capital grant to help fund the installation of multi-use turf fields, a basketball court, a shelter, a restroom and parking lot. The city plans on going back to the Legislature in 2017 for additional funds for fields.
Airway Heights is also applying for numerous state grants and reaching out to private philanthropic organizations to help fund additional features for the recreation center, such as a second gym and meeting space for the city's social service and health partners.
If everything goes according to plan, construction of the facility is expected to be completed by June 2018.
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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