Parks and Rec commission struggling with rec center design

The future of a new recreation center in Carson City remains hazy after a conceptual design raised as much objection as praise from residents and recreation officials Tuesday.

More than 40 racquetball enthusiasts, organized to lobby for courts in a new recreation complex, filed into the parks and recreation commission meeting and decried the lack of facilities in Carson City.

One racquetball player said she moved to Carson City specifically for the plethora of courts at the old Capitol Courts racquetball club, which has since closed.

Parks and Recreation Director Roger Moellendorf stressed that the conceptual design was made just to give commissioners ideas about what could be done. Racquetball courts, he said, could be included in the final design should the commissioners want them.

The design shown Tuesday illustrated many possibilities, including basketball courts, a walking track and various workout areas.

Criticism from the commission was mostly aimed at the center's proposed location in Mills Park, connected to the Carson City Aquatic Center.

While commissioners Michael Hoffman and Pete Livermore questioned parking space at Mills Park and the prospect of adding more traffic to congested Roop Street, commissioner John McKenna rejected the site altogether.

"Mills Park is a non-starter," he said. The park is a park, he said, and the last thing it should have is another building.

Three commissioners joined about a dozen residents last month to scout 15 possible locations for the new center and, rating each one as a home for the new center, ranked Mills Park their top choice.

There are advantages to having a community pool and a recreation center together, Moellendorf said. Not only would a combined facility draw more visitors, he said, it would also reduce staffing at each.

That didn't convince McKenna.

"Leave Mills Park alone and go get your efficiencies of operation out of Centennial Park," he said.

Some of the local residents suggested seeking more money, so designers can include more amenities in the proposed center.

Parks and Recreation staff have slated $6.2 million for the project, which was approved by voters among a slew of others listed on the "Quality of Life" ballot question in 1996. All but a few of the projects have been finished, he said. Of about $7.9 million in bond money approved by the measure, $1.7 million is slated for the other projects.

Greenhouse Garden Center owner David Ruff approached the commission with a proposal to partner up and buy the old Kmart building on North Carson Street. The 80,000-square-foot building would be more than enough for all the competing interests, he said.

But the $7 million for which Ruff said the building's owner is asking, coupled with an estimated $4 million to $7 million in renovation costs, commissioners said, was just more than they have to work with.

Livermore said Wednesday he expects Moellendorf to refine the conceptual plan and resubmit it to commissioners soon.

"We need to build something now, for today's youth," said commissioner Donna Curtis.

Contact reporter Cory McConnell at cmcconnell@nevadaappeal.com