Plans for updating the DeBauge Soccer Complex in Emporia are taking a slight detour from the previous project timeline.
During a report to the Emporia Recreation Commission Monday evening, Rec Director Amanda Gutierrez noted the project’s engineers are planning to conduct geotechnical work on the property where they plan to install a new turf field. Gutierrez says this newly added phase to the project will mean original plans will be set back by about a month.
Gutierrez noted they will not know the actual price of the geological work until bids are submitted, but estimates put it in the ballpark of $20,000. Gutierrez notes that this is not a small sum of money; however, when you look at the total price tag of the overall project, just over $3 million, it is a small but important price to pay.
An exact timeline for the geotechnical work is currently pending.
Conversations on the DeBauge improvements have been only secondary in recent weeks to recently resumed discussions on the construction of a new Emporia Recreation Center. The new rec center was not one of the topics of conversation for the ERC Monday, however, it will be the sole topic for the rec center steering committee when it convenes next week.
As you may recall, conversations on the new rec center just resumed earlier this year after a year-long layoff due to the Tyson Foods closure in December of 2024. Given the community is once again going through a similar period of economic hardship, KVOE News asked Gutierrez Monday if there have been any discussions about pausing the rec center plans once again.
Gutierrez told KVOE News that, to her knowledge, there has not been as of yet; however, the committee has not met since March, when “things were moving along well,” and then the news of the pending Michelin layoffs hit. Gutierrez, who recalled a conversation with a resident regarding the rec center last week, recalled saying, “Every time it feels close, something happens.”
Agreeing with the resident’s opinion that there may “never be a right time,” Gutierrez says it is her opinion that the community needs to have its say on the matter, adding that “as a recreation professional, all I can do is emphasize the benefits a new rec center will have on the local quality of life.”
Separate matters Monday night included:
*A review of the city of Emporia’s transient guest tax grant used to help offset costs for teams involved in the state basketball tournament last month at White Auditorium.
*A parking lot update for the Lee Beran Recreation Center *A phone/internet update.
*Updates on solar benches
*Facility uses
*The annual Jones Aquatic Center agreement
The ERC is scheduled to reconvene for its next regular meeting in May. The Rec Center Steering Committee will meet at 3 pm next Tuesday.
