Updates on programming and planned facility projects were the main item of business for Emporia Recreation Commissioners Tuesday evening.
As part of their regular meeting, commissioners received an update on plans for the DeBauge Family Soccer Complex update project, which, according to Rec Director Amanda Gutierrez, could see construction beginning by the fall of this year. Now, that will be dependent on several factors, including getting bids out to contractors by June of this year and having a firm selected by July.
In order to do that, plans will need to be finalized, which will be the task of a recently formed committee, which is scheduled to meet once every three weeks between now and likely June to finalize plans for the update. At this time, the committee will have three options to consider, the first being a “bare minimum” plan, which Gutierrez explained to KVOE News during an interview following Tuesday’s meeting.
Gutierrez noted that everything in option one “Will happen” with the other two options being extensions of the main plan with option two including a second field and option three including a third with some additional parking updates. Gutierrez says whether or not the committee can move forward with options two or three will be heavily dependent on finding additional sources of funding to add to the project’s $3.75 million commitments already pledged by the ERC ($1.5 million), Stormont Vail Health ($1.5 million) and a $750,000 Community Development Block (CDBG) grant from the state of Kansas.
At this time, Gutierrez says the City of Emporia is currently pursuing additional grant opportunities, namely through the Jones Testamentary Trust. According to discussions Tuesday, the city should hear back on that opportunity by March.
In other business Tuesday, Gutierrez provided an update of sorts on the still paused new Emporia Recreation Center venture, which halted following the closure of Tyson back in December of 2024. The rec center steering committee was scheduled to meet Tuesday afternoon; however, that meeting has been rescheduled to Tuesday, February 3, with the city of Emporia reportedly wanting to go back over the Memorandum of Understanding between itself, the ERC and USD 253 Emporia, which also put a halt to the rec center discussions roughly two years ago.
Also, the city is looking to appoint a new commissioner to the steering committee following the end of Susan Brinkman’s, who was serving as one of the city appointees, tenure on the city commission earlier this month. Gutierrez says the main areas being examined by the committee at this time are price, location and the future of the Lee Beran Recreation Center.
Separately Tuesday, Gutierrez had a report on the progress of the rec center’s RecXtra program, which resumed at the start of the 2025-26 school year, replacing programming from the Boys and Girls Club of South Central Kansas, which ended its contract with USD 253 last summer. According to Gutierrez, the program has been extremely successful since resuming in August, especially financially, bringing in roughly $60,000 thus far with expenses only slightly over $48,000.
Gutierrez says it has been a surprising development. However, she admits they did not have many expectations heading into the year, given the circumstances under which the program made its return.
Noting the additional dollars they have on hand, Gutierrez says that come next year, it may be worth the ERC’s while to begin exploring ways to expand program offerings by partnering with local organizations or sports teams.
The Emporia Recreation Commission will reconvene for its February meeting on Monday, February 16th, at 5:30 pm inside the Lee Beran Recreation Center.
