City considers potential multi-use indoor sports facility, aquatics center – Grand Forks Herald
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GRAND FORKS – Council members provided their feedback on the costs and economic impact for the potential of a multi-use indoor sports facility and indoor aquatics center.
During a joint council meeting with members of the Grand Forks Park Board Commission, consultants presented information on community input, site location plans and the costs of the facilities.
BarryDunn/GreenPlay was hired by the Grand Forks Park District in April to complete a feasibility study of a future multi-use indoor sports facility and an indoor aquatics center in Grand Forks. The potential indoor multi-use sports facility would host competitive games with amenities such as a turf field for soccer, football, lacrosse, baseball, softball, and similar sports; a running track; courts for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and similar sports. The indoor aquatic facility would have a competitive swimming and diving pool, lap pool, and other features.
The Park District started exploring the potential for the facilities based on the needs in the community, said George Hellyer, executive director.
Within the city, indoor swimming pools are limited. There are indoor pools at Choice Health and Fitness and the YMCA. The Hyslop Sports Center at UND also has a pool, but that building is proposed to close in the coming years. Hellyer said the Park District has also heard from the community and stakeholders about the need for a turf facility for many years.
“The winters are long in Grand Forks and summers are short. This would be an opportunity to provide year-round training and regional tournaments and other possibilities for the kids of Grand Forks,” Hellyer said.
While the concept of one facility combining both the turf and aquatics center together was looked at early on in the feasibility study, Zack Bisek with BRS Architects said separating them into two facilities was determined as the best option.
Several sites were considered for both facilities, including Choice Health and Fitness and the UND campus for the aquatics center. Choice Health and Fitness was also considered as a site for the turf facility, as well as the Columbia Mall and near the Alerus Center.
Council members received a preview of the preferred concepts for both facilities as identified in the feasibility study. Choice Health and Fitness was proposed as the preferred site for the aquatics center and the Alerus Center was proposed as the preferred site for the turf facility.
For the preferred location of the indoor sports facility at the Alerus Center site, the price depends on whether a golf vendor would be included. If the golf vendor is included the total project cost is estimated at just over $101 million. If that vendor isn’t included in the facility the total cost is estimated at $103 million. The aquatics center at the Choice Health and Fitness site is estimated to cost $37 million.
The project costs for both facilities factor in inflation for an estimated 2025 construction date.
The consultants gathered community feedback through in-person focus groups, stakeholder interviews, online input and a public survey. An online public poll conducted through Social Pinpoint asked residents whether they believe the city needs an indoor multi-use sports facility, an aquatics center or both. A majority of respondents said the city needs both facilities whether the sports facility and aquatics center are combined into one building, or if there’s two separate facilities.
Additionally, the consultants mailed a total of 8,500 to residents inviting them to take an online survey that asked for feedback on the potential facilities. Of …….
GRAND FORKS – Council members provided their feedback on the costs and economic impact for the potential of a multi-use indoor sports facility and indoor aquatics center.
During a joint council meeting with members of the Grand Forks Park Board Commission, consultants presented information on community input, site location plans and the costs of the facilities.
BarryDunn/GreenPlay was hired by the Grand Forks Park District in April to complete a feasibility study of a future multi-use indoor sports facility and an indoor aquatics center in Grand Forks. The potential indoor multi-use sports facility would host competitive games with amenities such as a turf field …….
GRAND FORKS – Council members provided their feedback on the costs and economic impact for the potential of a multi-use indoor sports facility and indoor aquatics center.
During a joint council meeting with members of the Grand Forks Park Board Commission, consultants presented information on community input, site location plans and the costs of the facilities.
BarryDunn/GreenPlay was hired by the Grand Forks Park District in April to complete a feasibility study of a future multi-use indoor sports facility and an indoor aquatics center in Grand Forks. The potential indoor multi-use sports facility would host competitive games with amenities such as a turf field …….