Recreation center idea goes to architects

Proposals have gone out to architectural firms to set parameters for size, amenities and cost of a new recreation and community center.

Thirteen Michigan firms were given a June 17 deadline by the South Lyon Area Recreational Authority Community Center Oversight Committee, which will meet later that day to review the results, explained South Lyon Councilman Mike Kramer, committee chairperson. The committee is made up of representatives from South Lyon, Lyon Township and Green Oak Township. The firms were asked to stay within a $15 million budget when drawing their plans.

With the design and budget we can start to put the story together to tell the communities what we can and cant do, explained Lyon Township Trustee Steve Fletcher, committee vice-chairperson. We did a survey to gauge interest and 90 plus percent of the three communities said they were in favor of having a community center and contributing to the funding of it. Its to build a facility the community will be proud of and will use. It will meet an unfulfilled need in the community.

Exactly how much will be spent, what would be included in the facility and even where it would be located is undecided.

By taking this next step, we can go back and say: Are we on the right track? Is this what folks are willing to pay for? Fletcher said. Fifteen million dollars was a number we put out there on the high end recognizing that we might not find funding for that whole amount.

An indoor pool was the most popular feature people who responded to the survey said they wanted.

And thats by far the biggest ticket item, Kramer said. This is to see how big a facility we would need for community rooms, a swimming pool, a fitness facility and gyms. We need to know the size and scope of the facility we would need.

Initially, the architects are being asked to include everything that we want and it can be pared down from there if necessary, Kramer said adding that the center would be geared toward providing programs for everyone from the very young to the very old.

The next step is to take the results of the architectural proposals to each communitys governing body.

Theres been a lot of cooperation working on this project, Fletcher said.

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Recreation center idea goes to architects