In Boone, the fate of a yet-to-be-built municipal recreation center is once again up for vote.
The Boone City Council approved a special election to partially fund a 35,000-square-foot recreation complex for the community at its Aug. 5 meeting. The item will appear on the general election ballot on Nov. 5 as a special election item.
Boone residents will vote on whether the city should issue “not more than $10 million in bonds or capital loans” to cover the center’s construction costs.
In a special election in 2022, voters rejected the recreation center construction project. The bond lost by less than 150 votes.
Boone Mayor Elijah Stines said holding the special election for the new proposal during the general election will encourage broader participation.
“This is the best attempt we could make to gauge general interest,” Stines said. “We’re really just waiting for instructions from voters.”
Stines said residents didn’t like the 2022 proposal because it included a 2% increase in the electric bill. The city of Boone has decided to fund the project through local sales tax instead.
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What would the leisure center look like?
The latest proposal calls for building the recreation center on a site north of Cap Erbe Park and south of Boone Middle School.
Stines said the originally proposed location at 628 Story Street – the former site of a Fareway store – was a concern for residents. They said the plan “lacks outdoor space, has limited parking and cannot grow with the community.”
Stines said the 2024 recreation center plan is more extensive than it was two years ago.
The facility’s design includes four multi-purpose courts for basketball, volleyball and pickleball, as well as a retractable turf option. Other features include a running track, play area, flexible indoor area and an outdoor multi-purpose area with natural grass.
The design allows for future expansion and provides space for a water area.
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How would the project be financed?
The estimated cost of developing the 22 acres on which the facility will be built is $19.7 million. Boone has already set aside money for the land purchase.
The $10 million bond will be used to build, improve and equip the facility. It will be repaid using local sales tax and reallocated debt service funds.
A committee was formed to raise the remaining $9.7 million from private sources.
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Celia Brocker is a government, crime, politics and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at [email protected].
