Strong interest in a recreation, wellness center in the College Community School District

CEDAR RAPIDS — Voters have a strong interest in supporting a bond referendum that would fund a recreation and wellness center in the College Community School District, results from a survey sponsored by the district indicate.

The school district is exploring the feasibility of building a facility that would be open to the public and operated by the YMCA of Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Area. At the very least, the district plans to take a bond referendum to voters that includes building a pool for its students. But it could grow to include pickleball courts, an indoor track and a splash pad.

The facility, if approved, could open as early as summer 2025.

Residents within the school district were randomly selected last month to participate in a phone or email survey, and an online survey was available to residents more broadly to give their feedback on the proposed project. The survey was conducted by Triangle2 Solutions, a research organization, on behalf of the school district.

The cost of the bond referendum will depend on the scope of the project, but the school’s bonding capacity is just below $40 million, Superintendent Doug Wheeler told The Gazette. The facility would be located on the district’s campus across from Prairie Crest Elementary, 301 76th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. It would be owned by the College Community School District and operated by the YMCA.

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The bond, if approved by voters in the district, would not raise property taxes, since the district will have paid down previous debt, Wheeler said. The current tax levy rate for residents is $16.61 per $1,000 of taxable valuation.

There were 428 people interviewed over the phone and 1,142 people completed an online survey. Seventy-six percent of the people who responded have children enrolled in the College Community School District.

Sixty-three percent of people said they love the idea of a YMCA within the College Community School District and another 20 percent said they needed more information before they decided.

Those who don’t support the idea are against tax dollars being used for it or live outside the primary market area, according to the survey results.

Some of the amenities at a YMCA that are important to the community are cardio equipment, strength training and group exercise, the survey showed. Other important amenities included recreation team sports, which received 47 percent interest, and pickleball, which received 32 percent interest.

Community members responded by 85 percent that if a YMCA were built on the College Community campus, they would be interested in using an indoor pool with fun features. Seventy-two percent responded they would use the indoor track, and 65 percent responded they would use the gymnasium.

About 53 percent of people who responded chose access to recreation and exercise as one of the biggest challenges facing their community. Mental health care and affordable child care were two biggest challenges that received a higher percentage of the response.

When asked what services and programs the community needs more of, 45 percent of people responded aquatics, such as swim lessons and recreational swim options; 22 percent responded health and fitness programs; and 11 percent responded child care.

In addition to the survey, 19 community leaders, including parents of students in the district, business leaders, civic leaders and longtime residents, were interviewed about a potential YMCA. A YMCA could provide a community center, activities and programs for kids and people of all ages, and affordable access to a pool and recreation facilities, the community leaders said.

Other programs of interest at a YMCA included weight management, yoga and Pilates, personal training, healthy cooking classes, swim programs and nutrition classes, according to the survey results.

YMCAs across the country partner with cities and schools to open facilities to serve growing populations.

In January 2021, the YMCA opened a $19.5 million facility in partnership with the city of Marion. The first floor of the 75,000-square-foot, two-floor facility offers three, full-size basketball courts, two racquetball courts, a six-lane lap pool and splashpad. The second floor holds cardiovascular and strength training equipment, fitness classrooms and an eighth-mile indoor track overlooking the basketball courts.

According to the College Community survey results, there is a stronger interest in this project than there was for the YMCA partnership with the Marion.

Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com