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LINN COUNTY
Wellness facility planned
Reporter: Tim Kenyon
tim@corridorbiznews.com
What began as a plan for a workout center for V.i.P.S. employees and family members has become a proposal for an estimated $13.3 million fitness and wellness multipurpose facility for Marion and nearby residents.
Scott Weiss, president of the V.i.P.S. school equipment supply company in northeast Cedar Rapids, said the more people heard about the idea over the past 2 1/2 years, the more they wanted to be a part of it.
The result is a plan for a Genesis Wellness Ecosystem (GWE) that includes a 105,000-square-foot indoor recreation facility with future outdoor components near Lowe’s Park in north Marion or on a separate parcel in a northeast Marion area, Mr. Weiss said.
“There’s no facility like this in the country,” he said.
Moreover, the facility would fill recreational facility and activity voids in Marion, City Manager Lon Pluckhahn said.
“Marion currently offers very limited adult recreational programs, and it’s because all the facilities are booked solid with the youth activities – we simply need more room and facilities,” he said.
Mr. Weiss said phase one plans have expanded to include a competitive swimming pool with bleachers and a diving wall, a separate indoor water park, space for other indoor recreation center components such as specialized training and a food court.
He hopes to break ground for that phase when the ground thaws, possibly March or April.
The recreation center area may open as soon as fall 2009, with the water park slide opening following in winter 2009-10.
Phase two includes several baseball fields and green space for a golf driving range and flag football fields, he said.
George Lake, Marion Economic Development Co. president, sees the GWE as a drawing card for Linn County-area businesses.
“When we look at keeping companies in the area, quality-of-life issues come into play, and when we compete with other communities the reality is a lot of other nice cities around the Midwest also have easy access for transportation and good schools,” Mr. Lake said. “What Scott’s proposing, it’s going to offer unique health and recreational opportunities other communities don’t have.”
Mr. Pluckhahn also likes the potential economic-growth advantages to the proposed facility.
“I see it as a tool (that) prospective businesses can use to attract a high-quality workforce, as it would make Marion a more full-service community and provide additional recreational opportunities for workers and their families,” Mr. Pluckhahn said.
Both Mr. Lake and Mr. Pluckhahn agree with Mr. Weiss’s contention that the facility can be another element to making Marion a destination point for occasional visitors.
Mr. Weiss foresees the facility drawing competitive swim, baseball and flag football tournaments, much like the soccer tournaments at the Tuma Soccer Field Complex in rural Marion.
“Anytime you can make your city a destination community it’s going to be advantageous for people to access the facility,” Mr. Lake said. “They’re going to want to eat out at restaurants, stay overnight at hotels, shop in the local stores and things of this nature are a key to make it a destination point.”
“It fills a need that none of the other recreation facilities can. Marion currently has no competition-sized indoor pool, and the school districts would be able to use this for their programs,” Mr. Pluckhahn said. “There are no privately owned facilities that have ball diamonds and soccer fields. It also fills a market niche with the water park component.”
Mr. Weiss estimated about 65 percent of the project will be paid through financing and some of his own funds.
More funding may eventually come from the city and school districts, he said.
Mr. Pluckhahn said part of that could come through city funds toward construction of baseball fields and other phase two amenities to the GWE.
Plus, more infrastructure investment in the area from the city would benefit the facility, Mr. Weiss said.
Linn-Mar school district Superintendent Katie Mulholland said the GWE possibly could receive SILO funds after board and legal approval, but it would come after completion of a planned new elementary school and high school football stadium.
“The competitive swimming pool would definitely benefit our swim team,” Ms. Mulholland said. “People are enthusiastic about Scott’s project, but it’s got to wait in line.”
Vision Iowa funds might be another target for phase two funding, Mr. Weiss said. CBJ
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