By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays Recreation Commission celebrated a Chamber in Hays ribbon cutting on Friday to kick off construction of it new facility at 13th and Canterbury.
The new facility will operate in conjunction with its current facility at 1105 Canterbury Drive.
The Hays Recreation Commission Foundation purcahsed land for the facility for $275,000 last year.
The new facility will have two additional gyms, multi-purpose space, a concession area, storage and offices. The estimated cost of the 25,800-square-foot building is between $6 million to $10 million.
Cash reserves available for capital improvement projects would be used to help finance the new building. Matt Cook, the commission's new director, said the commission also plans to seek a bank loan and donations to fund the project.
Cook said the commission is still working with its contractor, PWC, to finalize plans and cost for the porject.
No date has yet been set for the groundbreaking or completion of the project.
The new facility will allow the commission to expand its programs.
With the opening of Hays Middle School at its new location on 13th Street, the commission has seen an influx of between 10 and 40 students per day attending the recreation center's open gym hours.
Cook said the new facility would allow the center to add more structured programming for these students.
"We are excited about the project and being able to offer more indoor space to the people of Hays and the surrounding communities and hopefully bring in some more outside teams and tournaments and diversify our programming," Cook said.
"We are excited to see what the future holds and who might be able to help us out with the project."
The commission has an alternative bid that would also add an indoor walking track and third gym. Cook said the inclusion of the alternates depend on available funding.
Anyone who wishes to donate to the program can do so by calling Cook or outgoing director Roger Bixenman at the commission office at 785-623-2650.
Bixenman, who has spent 20 years as superintendent of the recreation commission will retire as of July 1. Several people from the community thanked him for his service at the ribbon cutting on Friday.
SEE RELATED STORY: Hays Recreation Commission superintendent to retire after three decades
Bixenman's retirement reception will be 4 to 6 p.m. June 12 at the LB Event Center.
SEE RELATED STORY: Matt Cook named next executive director of Hays Recreation Commission