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Rec. center groundbreaking more than ceremonial

8/29/2008 Source: Sky Hi Daily News
Although the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Fraser Valley rec. center took place at noon Aug. 20, the actual breaking of ground for the new $15 million rec. center had started Monday, Aug. 18.

A crowd of more than 70 people celebrated the groundbreaking while workers from Big Valley Construction of Granby were busy on site working on utility and footer preparation for the new gymnasium.

Rec. center work is continuing on schedule this week and so far the rec. district has spent about $1.5 million on the rec. center project, or 10 percent of the total cost. This amount does not include the donation of the 4.92 acres of land from Cornerstone Holdings at Grand Park, which represents a land and infrastructure value of $4.2 million given to the project.

Fraser Valley Recreation District Board of Directors President Dan O'Connell introduced comments at the groundbreaking with a statement about how he thought the new rec. center would be great for recreation in general and especially for the youth of the Fraser Valley.

He said he and the board members are working responsibly and openly to carry out the wishes of the voters in Fraser in approving the $19.5 million bond issue last fall.

Karen Waeschle, of the Fraser Valley Recreation Foundation, summarized that her group has raised close to $650,000 for add-on improvements for the pool and rec. center, greatly enhancing the value of the project. The group expects to raise more money in the near future.

She said she has been hoping and dreaming, for years to have a rec. center so her children can enjoy a pool and indoor recreation facilities in the heart of the Fraser Valley.

Grand County Commissioner James Newberry, a former Fraser Valley rec. board member of 12 years, took a moment to comment on the spirit of the public service and sacrifice that rec. district board members must have in order to serve on such a politically prominent board.

He said he had been on the board when it tried the first time to pass a bond for a rec. center and he said he understood and appreciated the hard work and pressures endured by the board to bring the rec. center and other rec. district projects to fruition.

He also said that a rec. center has been identified as a component necessary to fulfill the service plan that was filed in 1978 to create the rec. district.

Aside from O'Connell, the other board members are Pete Strohecker, vice president, John Kacik, treasurer, Beth Sands, secretary and Greg Gallavan, member at large.

Along with the crowd of well wishers at the ceremony, a group of children who participate in the Fraser Valley Rec. District programs were on hand and participated in the groundbreaking.

Other bond projects moving forward as planned

While attention has recently been focused on the rec. center project, there has been other progress related to work connected to the bond issue projects.

The building permit has been issued for the new $3.5 million clubhouse at Pole Creek Golf Course. By the end of this week the value engineering for the clubhouse and a guaranteed maximum price for the clubhouse should be finalized with Big Valley Construction.

A construction trailer is already on site at the golf course and work should start by the end of the week.

Also, additional fundraising for the clubhouse has started to move forward, said Pole Creek Golf Pro Larry Burks at the last board meeting.

The $1.6 million irrigation improvement project for the Pole Creek Golf Course, also included in the bond issue, has been completed and now the only work that remains is connecting electrical power so the new system can operate at full capacity. That work should be complete sometime this week.

Planning and preparation is currently underway on the concession and rest room improvements planned for the Fraser Valley Sports Complex as part of the bond issue. That work isn't slated to begin until next spring.

Scott Ledin, director of parks and recreation for the rec. district, said he was pleased with the progress being made on all aspects of the projects related to the bond issue that passed last fall.

In spite of a late start in selling the bonds that resulted from a failed election challenge, the district has made up for lost time and is back on schedule with the projects, he said.