Proposed indoor gym taking shape

The Fairfield Park and Recreation Department Board of Directors reviewed the most recent concept drawing of the proposed improvements around the Roosevelt Community Recreation Center at its monthly meeting Monday.

The concept drawing refers to the long-term plans for the Roosevelt Community Recreation Center, not just the proposed improvements planned to the indoor gymnasium, the large building colored green in the above drawing.

The proposed long-term renovations to the Roosevelt Community Recreation Center would involve expanding the complex primarily to the south and west with some additional features on the north. A new, multi-purpose gymnasium would be built in between the existing pool and the exercise rooms in the former school.

To the west of the new gymnasium would be a pair of outdoor sand volleyball courts. West of those would be an outdoor skate park. The drawing produced by the engineering firm French-Reneker-Associates Inc. shows the skate park as being a large bowl shape.

The skate park would be surrounded by trees and shrubs, and a shelter to the north. A small parking lot to the west would accommodate about four cars coming from South 12th Street.

North of the multipurpose building would be an outdoor playground and a pair of outdoor pingpong tables. North of them would be a new parking lot, which could be accessed from West Burlington Avenue.

South of the existing indoor pool would be a building for the gymnastics and trampoline team. A group of parents and gymnastics supporters has formed to raise the estimated $200,000 necessary to construct the building.

During the meeting, Wulfekuhle updated the board on the status of the gymnastics team?s current practice facilities.

The city learned in January that its insurance provider, Iowa Communities Assurance Pool, had noted in its insurance review conditions it perceived as unsafe in the racquetball room that houses the trampoline, uneven bars and rings. City officials were worried the gymnastics program would have to be suspended at the end of February, before the team had a chance to compete at the state and national meets in April and May.

Wulfekuhle said Monday the gymnastics program will continue uninterrupted. ICAP wrote a brief paragraph in its report about the problem it saw with the racquetball court.

The section of its report that dealt with the gymnastics program reads as follows:

?It is suggested that the gymnastics equipment in the racquetball court be evaluated and given ample room for use and padding. The room itself needs to be evaluated for safety ? example: Chair on table by trampoline.?

Wulfekuhle said he removed the table from the racquetball court and moved some of the equipment around for better spacing, and he was able to keep the uneven bars and rings in the room. City administrator Kevin Flanagan said has spoken with an ICAP loss control representative and she is planning to revisit the rec center in either late February or early March.

On its reviews, ICAP assigns its recommendations a letter grade ? A, B or C, in which A is the most urgent and requires immediate corrective action. The ICAP loss control representative gave the gymnastics equipment the letter grade ?B.?

South of the gymnastics building would be three outdoor basketball courts, which could be striped to accommodate volleyball, tennis or any other outdoor activity that requires a hard surface. East of the gymnastics building would be a new parking lot.

Around the perimeter of the buildings will be a one-third mile track.

(This story has been updated since its initial publication)