Conversations continue as the Emporia Recreation Commission looks into possibly expanding the Lee Beran Recreation Center.
The discussion was relatively brief as part of the Rec Commission’s board meeting Monday, but Director Tom McEvoy says the main focal point now is “the process going forward.”
The Rec Center’s current size is around 48,000 square feet. McEvoy says an expansion and reconfiguration could mean a roughly 100,000 square-foot facility with additional gymnasium, classroom and social hall space as well as an indoor pool arrangement involving a new therapeutic pool, separate lap swim pool and an area for family activities.
Projected costs over the past 4-5 years have been anywhere from $19 million to $25 million. The discussion is recently resuming after it was put on hold through the bulk of the COVID-19 pandemic. McEvoy says he now gets stopped regularly by patrons wanting updates.
