Provo considers bonding for 2 new recreation facilities

PROVO — Residents may be asked to bond for two recreation facilities this November — at about the same cost as was being considered for a single new center.

Thanks to low construction costs and low bond rates, City Council members were told Tuesday that they can add a fieldhouse addition to the Peaks Ice Arena to a bond proposal for a recreation center with exercise facilities, swimming pools and a senior citizens center.

And all at less cost to residents than the city had anticipated.

The council has until Aug. 11 to work out the details, but it did authorize city staff members to prepare the numbers for a $47 million bond election on Nov. 2.

If approved, Provo residents would face a tax increase of about $53 a year for a $200,000 home for four years. In the fifth year of the 20-year bond, that amount would change to $96. However, residents wouldn't see any change in their total bills, because at the same time, Provo would retire an existing bond for the Provo City Library at Academy Square.

"I like the idea of going up front and getting everything you need," said council chairwoman Midge Johnson.

Roger Thomas and Scott Henderson, from the city's recreation department, presented the idea of adding a fieldhouse, including indoor tennis courts, explaining that the Peaks could be modified for an estimated $8 million.

That would leave $39 million for a 150,000-square-foot center near the city's North Park with indoor competition and recreation pools, indoor track and basketball courts, as well as space for a new senior citizens center. The center would integrate the existing outdoor Veterans Memorial Pool.

The new center would allow the city to retire three aging facilities — an indoor pool at Provo High School, the Eldred Senior Citizen Center and The Center, a youth facility. The city is paying about $995,000 a year to operate the three facilities. By combining the services into new facilities, city officials estimate they can cut the operating costs by more than $200,000.

Henderson said the addition to the Peaks would offer the city some great facilities at minimal costs. In addition to the existing two ice sheets and indoor turf area used for sports like soccer, the fieldhouse would add indoor tennis courts, a general use gymnasium, indoor batting cages, an indoor track and an area for fitness equipment.

"It would round out that facility really well, and by adding it to an existing site you save a lot on the operation costs," Henderson said.