By James Bell
Hays Post

It has been in the works for years and now the groundbreaking ceremony last Wednesday at the Hays Recreation Commission Wellness Center marks the beginning of a major facilities expansion.

“Back in 2012-2103 we started looking into a project,” said Roger Bixenman, Hays Recreation Commission superintendent.

Originally the project would have added a pair of multipurpose rooms to the existing structure, but a standalone building was decided as a better option.

“It’s an expansion of our current facility and our current programs,” Bixenman said.

The new building will expand the center from 3,600 square feet to 12,600 and will add a separate cardio and weight area, a new check-in area and add dedicated aerobics and yoga rooms.

“We looked at it as a quality of life issue,” Bixenman said, as the project will enhance wellness and leisure areas in the facility.

The new building will be constructed north of the existing building on land was bought by the Hays Recreation Center Foundation in 2001, and was gifted to the Commission in 2014.

 

“Because the school district levees our taxes, we had to get approval to enter into a lease agreement,” Bixenman said.

The Commission cannot mortgage property for a project like this, so they went to banks to finance the project, with the building acting as collateral during the 10 year lease.

Payments on the building will be made from operating and programing funds.

The lease total is $1.5 million, with the entire project carrying a price tag of $2.1 million.

Despite the cost, Bixenman said he hopes it will bring in more people to the facility.

“From zero to 99 we try to get people involved,” he said. “We want to get people in the gym, get them healthy, develop that healthy lifestyle, so this is one way to hopefully enhance that.”

“We’re glad it is finally here and look forward to the construction in the next 330 days.”