Branson unveils 42-acre recreation complex plan

by Eric Olson

SBJ Reporter

eolson@sbj.net

Visions of a new sports and recreation complex in Branson are one step closer to reality. A rendering and project details for 42 acres in north Branson were unveiled at a Nov. 13 joint meeting of the Branson Board of Aldermen and Branson Advisory Board.

Michael Sapp of Sapp Design Associates, project architect, spoke of the recreation campus as a one-stop location for health, fitness, recreation and organized sports.

Among the plans is a 44,000-square-foot recreation center featuring two gymnasiums, community rooms, locker rooms, a fitness center, aerobics room, offices and a concession area.

Branson city officials are working out a partnership agreement to lease the fitness center to Skaggs Community Health Center, which will operate it through memberships.

Outside the recreation center, a 12,000-square-foot swimming pool, four baseball fields in a cloverleaf design, two soccer fields, trails and a playground are planned, according to Cindy Shook, Branson parks and recreation director.

But in case funding is not available for those plans, Plan B is in place.

"We've now been presented with a couple of options," Shook said. "The first option is to build the entire complex," which is estimated to cost $10.2 million. Should the budget not support that, Shook said a second option, at $8.9 million, removes two baseball fields, trails and playground areas from the plan.

Shook said the city has earmarked $3 million for the project. Additional funds will be allocated to the project annually through Branson's capital improvements budget, according to Jerry Adams, Branson public information director.

Also, lease revenue from Skaggs would go toward the project, said Adams, who noted, "No taxes will be raised for the project."

Shook emphasizes the significance of the project because Branson's parks department is losing its main baseball field and pool due to the Branson Landing lakefront project. "Those facilities will not be available to us now, so our programs will be under pressure until we can replace them," Shook said.

The city plans to bid the sports and recreation complex by late January or early February, and anticipates completion in spring 2005.

"We hope to be breaking ground by the spring," Shook said.

Stonegate Realty of Birmingham, Ala., donated the land for city use. Stonegate owns property surrounding the parks development and plans to develop it with a golf course and commercial and residential areas, according to a Branson news release.

Branson Hills Parkway, which leads to the facility, is under construction and will extend westward to intersect with Highway 248.