Residents Like Options for Linn Rec Center

MARION — Giving her daughter the opportunity to be more involved in competitive swimming is important to Jennifer Bupp.

Bupp, along with other area residents, attended a Planning Lifelong Activities for You — or PLAY, as planners are calling it — informational meeting last week about the new community/recreation center supporters would like to build in Linn County.

Bupp of Marion said her main interest is in the aquatics facilities. She would like to see a bigger competitive swimming facility.

“A larger facility would draw bigger meets, which would bring more money in,” Bupp said.

Bupp has a 12-year-old daughter who would swim more often if she could use indoor pools.

“The current programs are awesome and well-run. But the programs could grow even more with a bigger facility,” Bupp said.

Some of the options presented were: a track, gyms, leisure pool, lap pool, Jacuzzi, arts and crafts, dance, vocational programs, workout areas with equipment and concession areas.

“It would be nice to have one of everything, but what is the greatest good for all?” said Bupp, who was impressed with all of the options presented.

Survey results from a community survey of 627 random households showed that about one-third of the respondents would use a new center at least twice a week, 30 percent would use it once a month and 20 percent said they would not use such a center.

Katie Mulholland, superintendent of Linn-Mar community school district, said she would like to see aquatic and athletic facilities in the new center.

“The more we can have for young adults, the better,” Mulholland said.

Members of the swim team at Linn-Mar High School do not have a pool for practice, so they have to use pools at Coe College, Mulholland said.

Mulholland compared the community center to the renovations to downtown Cedar Rapids.

“If they can pull something like this off, it will bring a new energy to the area,” she said.

Tom Saxen, the co-chairman of Planning Lifelong Activities for You in Linn County, said the task force is in the information-gathering stage.

At the open house last Wednesday, informational boards were set up throughout the room showing residents what the county’s recreational needs are and what the options are for a community/ recreation center. After looking at the information, people were asked to give feedback in writing.

The public will have three more opportunities to learn about the project at open houses Aug. 27 and 28 and Oct. 16.