Public input has been a hallmark of the approach towards a new public recreation center in Emporia, both before and after the formation of a steering committee earlier this year to lead the work.
That approach continues with special input meetings coming the next several months. The first meeting has been set, and Steering Committee Chair Erren Harter says the goal is to meet people where they are.
Harter says three more input meetings are also tentatively coming on a monthly basis. The goal is to to have final plans available before Christmas. The reason? The committee is looking at a March 5 special election towards funding a new facility to replace the Lee Beran Recreation Center, which has been deemed too small and too inefficient to handle future public recreation wants and needs from area residents. A sales tax will likely be used as the main funding source, although the amount won’t be set until a final plan is ready to present to the public.
The Emporia Recreation Commission has been talking about the need for a new or expanded public recreation center for years and had conducted several public input surveys before the Steering Committee was established.
