Work is underway on a Request for Qualifications document as the Emporia Recreation Commission’s New Recreation Center Steering Committee officially gets started on its work.
The RFQ will eventually lead to a new architectural firm and engineering firm to lead the process for a new or significantly-expanded public recreation facility. At the Steering Committee’s first meeting Monday, board members heard about some of the building’s needs versus the current Lee Beran Recreation Center — multiple multi-use gymnasiums, more office space, splitting the therapeutic and lap swim pools, some sort of an indoor aquatics center and more. Committee chair Erren Harter says a new or expanded center will be a big driver for local quality of life.
Rec Center research says Emporia’s first public recreation center was at Fifth and Market for 25 years before work started in the late 1970s on what is now the Lee Beran Recreation Center at 313 West Fourth. The Beran Center’s space issues have been long- and well-documented, with the building now having less than half the desired space available to meet current and future needs.
Vice-chair Deon Morrow says residents may not realize the scope of what’s involved.
The Steering Committee’s predecessor, the Future Funding Task Force, has already endorsed a half-cent to one-cent sales tax as the main revenue stream for the project. It has also recommended putting the item on an upcoming ballot, but the date for that will be determined later.
The committee will meet at 3:30 pm March 21 at the Lee Beran Recreation Center. Harter wants the RFQ to be ready for approval by that meeting.
