Progress for City of College Station as Phase Two of Recreation Center Feasibility Study Begins
In a prominent move towards potential community improvement, the city council of College Station has provided permission for the Parks and Recreation Department to move into the second phase of a feasibility study for a potential recreation center. This step follows an in-depth review of the findings from phase one which prompted a council consensus towards progressing the project. However, it’s important to note that this development does not immediately indicate that construction would commence.
Phase Two Exploration: What to Expect
The second part of the feasibility study will be focusing on topics such as possible locations, space program options, and preliminary cost estimates. Phase one was primarily concerned with a market analysis and gathering public feedback about desired amenities. The feedback from the community showed a strong interest towards an indoor recreation space, particularly the idea of an indoor pool.
Council Concerns and Thoughts
There were various perspectives brought forward by council members on the project progress. Council Member William Wright expressed a sentiment that existing recreation centers could be extended, and further programming could be implemented in those areas. However, the potential cost of the project has been a concern echoed by multiple council members, including Bob Yancy, who highlighted the significant operational and maintenance expenditure this could lead to.
The Road to a Recreation Center: A Longstanding Conversation
According to Council Member Yancy, conversations surrounding the construction of a recreation center have been ongoing for approximately a decade. Phase two progress thus brings project discussions a step closer to actualization. As part of this next phase, potential expansion of existing facilities, including ideas about possible partnerships with other entities, will be considered as proposed by Mayor John Nichols.
Feasibility Study: External Inputs
The feasibility studies are not conducted in-house by the city council. Instead, council members approved a $180,768 budget for Brinkley Sargent Wiginton Architects to handle both phases of the study. Noted as a reputable architectural design firm based in Dallas, the company however, did not conduct the citizen survey component of the study. This task was undertaken by another company, ETC, serving as a sub-consultant.