Discussion on Does Lawrence really have a shortage of gyms? / LJWorld.com

On Does Lawrence really have a shortage of gyms?

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Keith 3 months ago

“The primary driver in this is, what does the community want?” City Manager David Corliss said.

Their avoidance of a public vote on this matter shows the lie in this statement.

TheSychophant 3 months ago

You beat me to the punch, Keith. .

Clueless further stated: “We have gone through a pretty good process of what the community wants, and we certainly have heard from the public that there is a deficit of indoor recreation space.”

Exactly what process is this that Clueless is referring to? While the comment section to the on-line LJW is hardly scientific, there seems to be quite a lot of opposition to the gym, at least with its current configuration.

mdlund0 3 months ago

I live in west Lawrence, when will we put shutting down the gyms in east Lawrence to a vote? Doesn't sound like a good idea? It's not. We elect leaders to make decisions that will benefit the whole community and sometimes things that will benefit the whole community in the long run wouldn't pass a public vote. Why? Because the public often doesn't have the time or information necessary to to make those strategic decisions - that's what we pay our elected leaders for. If everything were put to a public vote, then we'd have approval for all the parks, roads, libraries, police, fire trucks, and gyms that anyone could ever think of but not enough tax income to turn the lights on in a school.

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 3 months ago

If they were considering a gym on the scale of the Community Building or Holcomb or E. Lawrence Rec. center, I don't think there'd be much objection to letting the commission make this decision without a vote. But they want something as large as all three rec centers combined, on the far edges of W. Lawrence, and it won't even be available for public use on a majority of weekends.

merrill 3 months ago

How can Lawrence taxpayers get the best bang for our 1994 sales tax bucks and improve the quality of life for families throughout the entire community?

Construct a NW neighborhood rec center with 2-3 gyms and a walking/jogging track for public exercise probably for about $10 million. On city owned property. Now we have achieved shoring up the alleged lack of court space.

Connect the Burroughs Creek hike and bike path to the river levy by way off Hobbs Park through the new development in the "eastside warehouse district". A design path has been created so lets get on with it. Maybe cost $200,000.

Then create a design that connects some of the westside trails to the fewer eastside trails. Taxpayer will pay wayyyyy less than 31 million tax $$$$$.

In doing the above Lawrence,Kansas has effectively improved the quality of life for more families throughout the sales tax dollar community. This is definitely within the spirit of the 1994 sales tax that was approved by families throughout the community.

merrill 3 months ago

This whole rec center/PLAY idea came from bankers and the Chamber of Commerce. Bonnie Lowe was the PLAY spokes person and she was quoted as being tired of driving her children to Topeka for whatever. My first thought was that if Topeka has what you need for the family move to Topeka. Or JOCO for that matter. This group has $20 million tax $$$$$ worth of new space for this PLAY project.

The previous USD 497 BOE spent 20 million tax $$$$$$$ on this PLAY project. This was quoted by a USD 497 official as the first phase of the PLAY project. I am not sure that the spending for this is over. This in my mind opens up the USD 497 to the public.

I am okay with sharing this taxpayer owned space absolutely. After all this is PLAY space too.

Lawrence does NOT have a population of 90,000. The real population is in the area of 65,000. That other number includes KU students who have gyms,pools tennis courts,weight training etc etc etc on campus.

"Lawrence officials have said their youth basketball leagues routinely fill up and a lack of gym space has shortened seasons to six games."

Six games is good enough it seems to me. This is not NCAA after all. Want more games ? Extend the season.

There are a lot of basketball courts in Lawrence,Kansas. Open up any so called "vacant" public school that has a basketball court.

Lawrence does not need to move outdoor sports indoors. Let's keep our children outdoors in the real world.

merrill 3 months ago

"“The primary driver in this is, what does the community want?” City Manager David Corliss said. “We have gone through a pretty good process of what the community wants, and we certainly have heard from the public that there is a deficit of indoor recreation space.”

Who is this "public" ? How was the information obtained?

Was the community advised that whomever wanted to spend $31,000,000 million tax dollars and NOT put the issue to a vote?

2-3 new gyms in a $10 million tax dollar neighborhood facility will certainly provide some relief if that relief is in fact necessary.

When it comes to guidelines Lawrence,Kansas government is notorious for blowing off guidelines.

rlsd 3 months ago

Has anyone ever looked into a YMCA? Topeka has incredible ones and they are AFFORDABLE to the community. I like the idea of improving what we have inexpensively. AND NW Lawrence could sure use a outdoor pool WITH parking!!! A REAL neighborhood gathering place! Merrill is on the right track...this new trafficway plan is all about the wealthy and their sports for kids while they enjoy the Country Club. Not all of us can afford that for ourselves or our kids.

Pywacket 3 months ago

YES! My husband just joined one in Olathe--it is between where we live and where he works, so it makes sense for him to stop there after work when he can. But it didn't make sense to get the family plan since, realistically, I won't be going way out of my way to go there, as I work in the other direction. Membership at one Y means you can use their other facilities. I would use one in Lawrence and I know a lot of others who would, too--especially if it had a pool for lap swimming, like the Olathe one has. Has the city of Lawrence approached them?

merrill 3 months ago

“I have done a lot of feasibility studies on that stuff,” Beckner said. “You have to be real serious to make it work. Every event out there is contested at this point, and by several groups. And there is not a lot of money in it to begin with. You have to have the hotel and restaurant space to make it work.”

Lawrence not alone in considering regional recreation center, researcher says by Chad Lawhorn LJWorld.com

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 3 months ago

"Supporters of the recreation project have been more liberal with the statistic, at times, saying in forums that the city has a shortage of about 18 gyms for its population of 90,000-plus—and would still have a shortage of gyms even if the recreation center gets built."

Their calculation of the number of gyms per capita also doesn't take into account that a large percentage of that 90,000 population are students, faculty and staff at KU, who have access to a considerable number of university facilities, which means they place little or no reduced demand on city facilities.

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 3 months ago

Put it to a vote--

https://www.change.org/petitions/city-commission-city-of-lawrence-public-vote-on-the-public-financing-of-the-regional-rec-center

TheSychophant 3 months ago

The petition does not have as many signatories as I would like to see. I think the only place it is being publicized is here on the on-line LJW edition. Don't think any groups are out there soliciting signatures. if you click on the petition link, there is a place for you to invite your facebook friends to sign on to the petition. I did this and most of my Lawrence area friends ended up signing it. Would suggest others do the same.

merrill 3 months ago

In a civilized manner let YOUR commissioners know!

Mayor Bob Schumm schummfoods@gmail.com Home (785) 842-6729 Work (785) 842-7337

Vice Mayor Michael Dever mdever@sunflower.com (785) 550-4909

Commissioner Hugh Carter hughcarter@sunflower.com (785) 764-3362

Commissioner Mike Amyx mikeamyx515@hotmail.com Home (785) 843-3089 Work (785) 842-9425

Commissioner Aron E. Cromwell aroncromwell@gmail.com (785) 749-6020

lizziemarie 3 months ago

If you are an athlete or have a child that is one who needs to practice and play in the Winter in Lawrence, Kansas then you are fully aware that there is a HUGE shortage of gym space!

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 3 months ago

Then you should lobby for additional gym space that will be available to kids such as yours, not gym space that is going to be rented out to private tournament organizers.

deec 3 months ago

No one "needs " to play winter sports. We need air, water, food and shelter. Sports are a luxury which the city cannot afford when the basic systems that supply water are failing.

lawrenceloser 3 months ago

Then you don't know anything about the positive effects of recreation, sports, and fitness. It's not an either/or situation.

deec 3 months ago

Recreation, fitness and exercise do not require either organized sports or 25 million dollar buildings. Children throughout the world and historically get ample exercise doing this old fashioned thing called playing outside.

Sports are not a basic necessity of life and survival.

none2 3 months ago

The same could be said about the empTy.

grandpaD 3 months ago

This whole issue is based on KU and Lawrence have to be co joined. The city commission is not listening to the public. Actually this in not uncommon. The commission and developers and money people in this town have set the pace and will not listen to anyone else. Sadly no vote will be approved and this will be built. Just remember what was done here, when in the future, it does not support itself and our taxes go up to pay the shortage.

oneeye_wilbur 3 months ago

Get over this nonsense about the kids. The population numbers need to be adjusted t allow for retirement community occupants, nursing homes and children under 4,

Where is the enclosure that was sent to Corliss from the NRPA ??

Would like to read it with one eye!

COjayrocks 3 months ago

It's clear Chad is not hiding his feelings regarding the Rec Center anymore...

kansasplains1 3 months ago

Merrill, you are right on the point with your comments!

However, when I wrote the city commissioners a year ago regarding another matter, I didn't even get one response back.

But I appreciate what you are doing and why.

oneeye_wilbur 3 months ago

If anyone so desires to speak before the commission do the following:

Ask all five if they have already made up their minds. They should be man enough to answere Yes or No. It is that simple.
If they cannot answer then sit down and then leave. Otherwise you are wasting YOUR time.

The commission does not care how much time they waste in their lives.

Putting this to a vote is a sure way to move forward and spend money for decades to come, while rest of the city crumbles away. After all paying someone to walk around with a piece of chalk downtown marking car tires, hardly demonstrates leadership or sound business policy.

grammaddy 3 months ago

Is Rock Chalk Park going to be a public gym like Holcolm or the Community building? I thought it was for the purpose of attracting collegiate events. PUT IT TO A PUBLIC VOTE!!

fu7il3 3 months ago

That is one of the issues. People are getting confused about what this really is. Rock Chalk Park is not part of the proposed rec center, it will just be in the same area. Rock Chalk Park will be for University soccer, softball, and track teams, and are totally separate from the rest. The rec center can't be involved with KU athletics because of NCAA rules.

blondejuan 3 months ago

If the school district let kids use the gym space we would have plenty of space. We even have schools we aren't using. Remodel them.

onceajhawkalwaysajhawk 3 months ago

YMCA option sounds like a good idea. I've used several across the country and some would rival the best fitness facilities in America.

Stain 3 months ago

I truly miss the YMCA we had in a city where I lived before. Great facility and affordable for most.

Why does everything in this town have to profit the same 3 or 4 people?

WilburM 3 months ago

Absolutely. A good-sized Y would be great. I lived i my home town's Y while growing up. It was great, and a truly democratic place for everyone.

lgagg18 3 months ago

Why is it that everything new going in has to be in WEST Lawrence. This city does NOTHING to improve East Lawrence such as a walking, biking trail headed East maybe along K-10 Hwy. These West Lawrence residents are spoiled by getting everything they want but yet we all have to pay the extra taxes.

KRichards 3 months ago

What are you actually referring to when you say "everything new going in has to be in WEST Lawrence."?

East Lawrence is getting a $20 million dollar library, they have a recently remodeled outdoor swimming pool, hell they even have a nice new homeless shelter.

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 3 months ago

"East Lawrence is getting a $20 million dollar library, they have a recently remodeled outdoor swimming pool,"

Those would be more accurately described as being in central Lawrence. And the East Lawrence neighborhood is now often referred to as "Old East Lawrence," which reflects that the city has grown a good deal towards the east over the last several decades.

KRichards 3 months ago

You really need to look at a map and not refer to terms that described Lawrence 50 years ago. I will make it easy for you. http://goo.gl/maps/gA3PY Looks to me "central Lawrence" would be more accurately described as the general area of 15th and Iowa.

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 3 months ago

That may be dead center. but Mass St. is only a mile from Iowa St. It's two miles from Harper St., and there is a considerable amount of development to the east of Harper.

So the most accurate description would be East Central-- but not East.

chootspa 3 months ago

The first two projects, aside from not being east, are remodels of existing structures, not "new." On the third one? I'm sure everyone on the east side would let you move that homeless shelter to the west side. No need to be jealous. You're welcome.

Currahee 3 months ago

No, the question is, "what do city leaders want?" And the answer is, "MORE GYMS. WE DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK."

greenworm 3 months ago

Have a great idea for 100 basketball courts.. for cheap. have the city pick out 100 of the safest and most logical culdesac's in lawrence and install a 200-300 basketball goal.
there is plenty of fields around town to play soccer and baseball.

Project time 2 wks cost 500 dollars per goal installed = 50,000 dollars

results: no crazy taxes for lawrence residents minimal upkeep did'nt line a few fat cats pockets like this project will, and is probably the driving force of the whole project, how many kids u see outside now a days anyway, usually sitting on the couch and playing video games or on a computer.

Stain 3 months ago

I would like to thank Chad Lawhorn for his excellent reporting on this proposed project.

Stain 3 months ago

Lawrence does not have a shortage of gyms.

lawrenceloser 3 months ago

Based on what? Do you use them?

lawrenceloser 3 months ago

YMCA has put feelers out in Lawrence but never has seriously considered pursuing it as far as I can tell. Its mentioned then goes quiet. There must be something behind the scenes we don't know about i.e. turf war or something. And I don't know what their criteria is for expanding into a new city. Maybe Chad could contact them and get some info on that.

hear_me 3 months ago

"YMCA has put feelers out in Lawrence but never has seriously considered pursuing it as far as I can tell. Its mentioned then goes quiet."

An outside organization would not be able to compete with Lawrence's Parks and Recreation Department.

lawrenceloser 3 months ago

Only because LPRD won't allow them to compete. What ever happened to the notion of partnership? Clearly a need for more services and they could come up with an agreement to not duplicate programs. Plus Y facilities usually have gymnasiums included.

hear_me 3 months ago

With this new rec center, we will have added the rec center and two sports complexes on our nickel in a short period of time. What fraction of Lawrence residents are served with these projects? What fraction of Lawrence residents are not comparably served. There's more to life than basketball, and not everyone is a child.

oneeye_wilbur 3 months ago

How come the Journal World reporters don't give us a link to the Enclosure that Corliss got? Just wonder why it was not included with the link to the letter regarding the PROGRIS or whatever the heck that group is! Sounds like something for hair growth. This rec center is certainly making my hair stand on end.

Isn't it something. All of these professional hot shots at KU Endowment and the local movers and shakers and they keep changing ther strategies? Why didn't Mr. Seuferling at KUEA disclose why he didn't get the donations he claimed that did not come forth?

Was KUEA really expecting donors? Doesn't he know that people are tapped out and the next generation of donors will be supporing their own kids instead?

Need some more facts. By the way, what happened to the Mustard Heir/

merrill 3 months ago

Lawrence is not short on Gym space. Participants need to learn how to make use of what is available. It's all about scheduling. All participants cannot practice at the same time nor play at the same time. Convenience gets too expensive for my tax dollar. If more basketball and soccer games are wanted stretch out the local season..... August 21st to May 1st. We city slickers are not restricted to NCAA rules.

Adding 2-3 gyms to the existing inventory will spell relief. The land near Free State is owned by taxpayers and so is the existing infrastructure now in place.

We've reading some about this new high dollar living project that comes with a 18 hole golf course and tax incentives..... it is located nearby this new Field House project.

The more structures and land the city own's the more the budget becomes expanded which is in and if itself a tax dollar increase any way taxpayers look at it.

merrill 3 months ago

The birth of this fiasco began about here at least this is about when the public at large got wind of it. This is a high dollar PLAY concept make no bones about it. Does it ever stop? http://www.ci.lawrence.ks.us/currenttopics/PLAY/i_executive%20summary.pdf

PLAY Overview http://www.ci.lawrence.ks.us/currenttopics/PLAY/i_executive%20summary.pdf

PLAY Committee Members Kelly Barth, Mark Buhler, Dave Corliss, Fred DeVictor, Rick Gammill, Mike Grosdidier, Sue Hack, Paige Hofer, Bonnie Lowe, Pam Madl, Julie Manning, Scott Morgan(USD 497), Wayne Osness, Linda Robinson(USD 497), Bob Sanner, Ernie Shaw, Doug Stremel and Doug Vance.

The Mission Statement of PLAY http://www.ci.lawrence.ks.us/currenttopics/PLAY/i_executive%20summary.pdf

Background and Process http://www.ci.lawrence.ks.us/currenttopics/PLAY/i_executive%20summary.pdf

The first step in the needs assessment was to collect data from a variety of sources. Three methods were developed to collect data for this study. The design team has completed the following: http://www.ci.lawrence.ks.us/currenttopics/PLAY/i_executive%20summary.pdf

abby1130 3 months ago

Anyone who has a kid who plays sports knows Lawrence had an extreme shortage of playing space. Many parents have had to have their kids play on teams in Kansas City so their kids are competing on a level playing field. While I sympathize with those who say we should spend our resources elsewhere, there has to be a balance. As the father of a teenage daughter I want her to have the best opportunity to compete on and off the court. There are many studies that show that teenage girls who participate in sports do better in school and tend to stay out of trouble. I think that is important as a parent.