Coralville considers two designs for new recreation center, pool

CORALVILLE — After 50 years of use, the Coralville Rec Center is one step closer to new life, either as a renovated or a rebuilt facility.

The city in February announced plans to partner with the Iowa City Community School District to create a new recreation center and indoor competition pool.

Earlier this month, the public was invited to see two design concepts for a new recreation center that would replace the current center, which sees about 150,000 visitors each year.

Sherri Proud, director of parks and recreation in Coralville, said she’s hopeful the city council will adopt a master plan for the project sometime in July.

New build concept

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The current Coralville Rec Center, at 1506 Eighth St., Coralville, is located at ST Morrison Park, across from Northwest Junior High. Under both plans — for a new facility, or a renovated and expanded facility — the building would remain at its current location.

The new build concept would create an entirely new recreation center, to the east of the existing facility. The center would stay open throughout construction of the new building. It would then be demolished once construction is complete.

The new build plan is estimated to cost $50 million to $55.4 million. The space would be 109,700 square feet and include three gymnasiums and an elevated track.

Part of the master plan would include three pools: a competition pool with spectator seating, a leisure pool, and a recreation and community lap pool. It also would include a spa.

Community meeting rooms and strength, cardio and fitness rooms also would be available.

Renovation and addition concept

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The renovation and addition concept would involve repurposing most of the center’s existing space, as well as building an addition to the east, at an estimated cost of $52 million to $56.2 million.

The design calls for the existing indoor pool — built in 1988 — to be converted into a dry fitness space.

Like the new build concept, there would be a total of three pools: a competition pool with spectator seating, a leisure pool and a recreation and community lap pool, as well as a spa.

Within the plan, existing strength, cardio and fitness spaces would be expanded. Community rooms and activity spaces also would be included.

Two new gymnasiums with an elevated track also would be added.

The plan calls for infrastructure updates to the mechanical and electrical systems, exterior walls and roof.

New parking would be available on both the east and west sides.

ICCSD and Coralville partnership

A partnership between Coralville and the Iowa City Community School District would not be new. The two came together to pay for construction of the current rec center pool, which as build 37 years ago.

Currently, the Iowa City school district has four swim programs — high school and junior high — that use the recreation center. The district helps pay for about one-third of the operating costs, Proud said.

“This is an exciting endeavor between the city of Coralville and the district, and it speaks to our shared values and the very collaborative relationship that the city and the district have, and it's very rewarding to see the two organizations come together to try to develop something new in our community that will benefit so many students and so many families across our area,” Iowa City Deputy Superintendent Chace Ramey said.

Since the project still is in the design phase, Ramey said there have been no concrete decisions made about how the two entities would share the cost of the project.

Ramey said there’s a budget line dedicated to the recreation center in the district’s facilities master plan.

“Right now, it's just a budget, and so as the final project comes more into focus, that could change potentially, that would be subject to school board approval in terms of the amount that the district contributed to the new aquatic center,” Ramey said.

On the city side, Proud said her team has just begun preliminary conversations on specifics related to how the city would fund this project.

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Program driven design

Coralville and the school district worked with Iowa City area architects Neumann Monson. Development of the design concepts cost around $150,000. Those expenses were split, with the city paying $90,000 and the school district paying $60,000.

Proud said the process for developing the master plans included community feedback, recommendations from the consultants, and tours of other recreation facilities in the state.

Earlier this year the city put out a survey asking for feedback on amenities residents want to see in the new building. The survey also asked how often residents use the center and whether they participate in rec center programming.

Proud said the elevated track included in both plans is a result of the survey. It was one of the most requested amenities.

“We also have a lot of history on what programs needed more space and what activities are most asked for. So, by the time that you put that all together, we put that into a programming plan with Neumann Monson, and then that drove the space plan,” Proud said.

Prior to adopting a master plan, Proud said there are decisions to be made regarding the park itself. It’s possible the existing baseball field and playground could be moved.

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