Recreation Facilities Update (April 2017)

MERRIAM PARKS & RECREATION

FACILITIES UPDATE

The photo above shows Merriam residents laying the cornerstone for Merriam School in 1911. After serving as Johnson County’s first K-12 school, then as home to other public institutions (including Johnson County Community College), the structure became part of the current Irene B. French Community Center (IBFCC) in 1989.

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hrough multiple additions and modifications, floods, systems failures, and expensive repairs, the city struggles to keep the old school building in service, and now the facility is at the end of its useful life. The IBFCC was originally designed for use as a school, and not meant to support the traffic and constant activity of a modern community center where people come to exercise, learn, enjoy art, celebrate, and more.

The Merriam Aquatic Center (MAC) also faces serious agerelated issues. The pool and filter house are more than 30 years old, while the bath house is 55 years old. The city commissioned maintenance studies on both facilities to better understand the extent of failing structures and systems. Findings indicate that neither facility provides adequate access to people with disabilities, and extensive, costly repairs are needed to continue safely operating the IBFCC and the MAC.

There are several different ways to make an informed decision about the future of these recreation facilities. During the past year, city staff worked with consultants to develop various scenarios for moving forward.

Residents were given opportunities to express what they want for their recreation facilities, and how the city should provide these services to future generations. The results of these activities made it clear that existing facilities do not meet the community’s needs.

Merriam residents deserve and expect high quality recreation services and amenities in safe, durable, modern facilities that are cost-effective to maintain and operate over time. The city cannot meet these expectations if it continues the practice of making expensive, unplanned repairs to the IBFCC and MAC. Fortunately, there are options…

RENOVATE EXISTING FACILITIES The Irene B. French Community Center The IBFCC’s roof leaks and its basement floods; the temperature is either too hot or too cold, and odors can be unbearable; ceiling tiles fall, concrete crumbles; and much of the facility doesn’t comply with current building and life-safety codes, or meet requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Repairing and updating the current facilities is an option. In 2015, the city hired Susan Richards Johnson and Associates to complete a comprehensive analysis of the community center. It provided detailed solutions for addressing many of the IBFCC’s current problems, which would make it possible for Merriam to continue using the existing community center.

A partial demolition and renovation of the facility would address structural, safety and accessibility issues, reconfigure some of the existing rooms, and construct a new addition — for an estimated cost of $10-$12 million.

Pursuing this option would result in all systems working reliably into the foreseeable future, inside a building that was originally built in 1911, with other sections constructed in 1938 and 1951.

REPAIRS & RENOVATIONS ADA accessibility Site drainage Concrete curbing / walkways Domestic fire and protection lines Storm drain piping and catch basins Architectural Renovate building entry / kitchen access Wayfinding outside and inside building Roof drainage / structure Renovate basement (1911) Renovate first floor (1911) Renovate existing reception, lobby, corridors Renovate Jenks Gymnasium Abandon 1911 mezzanine Exterior renovations Renovate 1937 room additions Mechanical, electrical, plumbing Code compliant upgrades Ventilation / exhaust upgrades HVAC upgrade Demolish 2/3 of 1951 addition Construct new addition Locker rooms / family areas Fitness / weight room Aerobics room Full size gymnasium with raised mezzanine walking track New mechanical room Renovations of the IBFCC would demolish the 1951 addition and construct a new gym with raised walking track and other fitness amenities listed above.

Jenks Conference Center

The Merriam Aquatic Center In 2014, Larkin Aquatics completed a comprehensive study of the MAC, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and ADA requirements. That detailed report indicated needed updates will range between $600,000 – $900,000, plus an eventual $3.5 million to replace the basin.

This would be in addition to the $10–$15 million to renovate the community center.

BUILD NEW FACILITIES When contemplating the high costs of updating the city’s existing recreation facilities, it became financially prudent to ask, “What does the community want?” There is also a concern that the cost of keeping the existing facilities — which, even if updated, won’t fully meet the community’s needs — might cost taxpayers more over the next 30 – 40 years than building something new.

IKEA

SLATER

A steering committee of Merriam residents was appointed to work with Pros Consulting to determine what a recreation facility would include to meet the community’s needs. Surveys, meetings, open houses and other public engagement activities provided specific information about what residents want in a new facility. This included looking at a wide-range of amenities, features, and locations for a new community center. In addition, the public was given the opportunity to provide feedback on several different facility concepts at a public meeting.

At the end of this extensive public process the clear preference was for a dual use community center / aquatics center facility consisting of indoor and outdoor pools on the Vavra Park site (6040 Slater Street), as seen in the rendering.

If the city chooses to proceed with this option, a new facility is estimated to cost $25–$30 million, and would open approximately 33 months after financing is secured.

MAIN LEVEL

LOWER LEVEL SERVICE ACCESS

TRACK: 9 LAPS APS PER M A MILE ILE MECH

BUILDING SUPPORT & MAINTENANCE

GYM STO.

AEROBICS & DANCE

GYMNASIUM BELOW

D WEIGHTS & FITNESS

LOCKERS & SHOWERS

E

E

TO OUTDOOR AQUATICS OUTDOOR AQUATICS BELOW

ADMIN OFFICES CONTROL DESK

GYMNASIUM

GALLERY & SENIOR LOUNGE

*

CLASSROOMS 1

D

W

M

KITCH VEST.

PREFUNCTION GALLERY HALL

EVENT SPACES

LOBBY

2 1

PARTY ROOM

STO.

2

CAFE

NATATORIUM BELOW

UP

MECH

3

INDOOR POOL 4 LANE X 25 YARD LAP POOL + LEISURE POOL

VEST.

CHILD WATCH

MAIN LEVEL ADJACENCY DIAGRAM 0

16

GRAPHIC SCALE December 31, 2016

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MAIN ENTRY

These concept plans illustrate the layout of a 65,475-square-foot community center as two floors with an indoor aquatic center (natatorium), double gym, walking track, LOWER LEVEL ADJACENCY DIAGRAM fitness center, and hospitality and program spaces.

0 16 32 GRAPHIC SCALE December 31, 2016

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WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS The most recent Citizen Satisfaction Survey results, released in January 2015, provided clear evidence that residents value the city’s parks and recreation facilities: »» 86 percent said it’s important for Merriam to continue supporting a community center »» 83 percent said it’s important for Merriam to continue supporting a municipal pool »» 66 percent think the city should contemplate significant upgrades or replacements for facilities An August 2016 survey specifically about Merriam’s recreational facilities demonstrated strong support for a city community center: »» 78 percent think it is valuable to have a community recreation center »» 79 percent believe a community recreation center boosts property values in our community »» 61 percent of households with children under 10 think the city needs a new community recreation center; 63 percent of households with children ages 10-19, and 60 percent of households ages 20–54 without children also feel this way Results from the same survey, and input collected during public input sessions and stakeholder interviews, were used to develop a list of recreational facility needs in the community. Ranked by priority, some of the top amenities residents said they want included an indoor walking/jogging track; fitness areas; indoor swimming pools, gyms for basketball and volleyball; rooms for catered events, community events and family gatherings; and an outdoor swimming pool.

FUNDING STRATEGY FOR BUILDING A NEW FACILITY If the “build new” option is chosen, staff recommends using a sales tax to finance the project.

Bond payment on a $25 million project is estimated to be $2 million per year, or the equivalent of a ¼-cent sales tax. In this scenario, the city benefits from its strong “pull factor” — the number of non-residents that shop here and contribute to Merriam’s sales tax base. After calculating the pull factor, only $360,000 of the $2 million annual bond payment would actually be paid by Merriam residents. Essentially, the sales tax option would only cost residents about $32 per year — or one gallon of gas per month.

If funding involves issuing bonds or raising sales taxes, a public vote would be required.

NEXT STEPS The community will have opportunities to learn more about this issue through a series of public outreach activities and at popular community events throughout the spring and summer. The first major community discussion is planned for April 25 at 7 p.m. at the Irene B. French Community Center, as part of a joint meeting of the City Council, the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, and the Recreation Facilities Steering Committee.

MORE INFORMATION More information will be provided to the community in the coming months. For the most current news about facilities issues, visit www.mprfacilities.org. Contact Merriam Parks & Recreation Director Anna Slocum at 913-322-5556 or email annas@merriam.org with questions related to this issue.

MERRIAM CIT Y HALL

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