Batavia Park District consults residents on indoor rec options

Batavia Park District officials are asking residents to help decide what amenities should be included in a new indoor recreational facility.

Following an assessment survey sent to 761 homes and a series of listening tours throughout the city, park officials hosted a workshop Tuesday to update residents and gather more input.

"We want to understand what the public is asking for," Executive Director Allison Niemela said.

Roughly 75 percent of residents who answered the assessment survey support building a new indoor recreational facility, Niemela said. Respondents, who were an average of 50 years old and 17-year residents, listed an indoor pool, fitness center and indoor walking track as top priorities.

Niemela said the district is taking a "deep dive" into studying what works best for residents.

"We want to know if we are headed in the right direction," she said. "Are we hearing (residents) correctly?"

Representatives from Williams Architects, who will be designing the project, presented four options for a recreational facility.

The options each included an indoor pool, track, gym or turf field and multipurpose rooms, all in varying sizes. The indoor turf field could include a gym floor that could be placed on top of the turf.

A two-facility option that had the pool and gym in different buildings was the least favorite of the attendees, Niemela said after the workshop.

"If parents are dropping off their kids (for an activity), they want to have something they can do in the same facility," she said.

Tom Poulos, from Williams Architects, said Batavia has a lot of programs but the city needs a spot where residents can have "lifelong learning experiences."

"This should be the heart of the community," he said.

The location and cost of the project can't be realized until there is a plan in place, Niemela said. At this point, officials are not planning to ask for a referendum question, she said.

After the workshop, attendees were given a chance to question staff members and fill out comment cards.

Resident Tiffany Green said such a facility in the city is overdue.

Batavia resident Janice Coulter said an indoor facility would attract people to the city and could increase home values. But she mostly wants activities she can share with her two children, ages 9 and 17.

"It's important to have something we can do together," she said.

Joe and Britt Hawkins expressed a need for a pool in Batavia for future generations. Two of their children, who are currently members of college swim teams, went through the St. Charles swim club program.

Following the workshop, Niemela said many residents are interested in the possibility of future expansion for a facility. But the overriding theme was to keep the dollars in the community.

"People are tired of paying nonresident rates," she said.

Niemela said the feedback from attendees was helpful and almost completely positive. But the district mostly wants to know what residents are thinking.

"We were really open-minded to whatever the night would bring," she said.