PACE continues 10-year push toward recreation center

SANDPOINT — Despite challenges, Michael DiBenedetto said plans for an all-encompassing community center remain on track.

Now in its second year, DiBenedetto said the project is on target for its 10-year plan. The first two years were earmarked for design and information; the third year is when the Ponderay Aquatic Center hopes to finalize a site and begin fundraising to move the project from dream to reality.

And, much like it has since the idea was first launched, it continues to attract attention and excitement.

"We have everybody asking the same two questions: 'Where is it going to be?' and 'When is it going to be done?,'" said DiBenedetto, the president of the nonprofit Ponderay Aquatic Center Endowment, the group leading the charge for the project. "And the answer is we have a lot of good sites and we're trying to find the best one. We have a 10-year plan and we are on target."

Whether the center is built near Ponderay's Field of Dreams or another location, such as a 12-acre site fronted by Boyer Avenue in Sandpoint, remains a fluid conversation. DiBenedetto said PACE officials have talked with area residents to find a site that works for both the community and the nonprofit.

He's talked to mayors in Sandpoint, Ponderay, Kootenai and Dover; he's talked to numerous organizations and community members — all of whom have suggested a variety of sites.

The Ponderay site near the Field of Dreams has long been a strong possibility because of its location; however, concerns remain about how the center would fit with both existing and planned city projects at the site. Ponderay officials have expressed support for the concept. Still, they also worry about whether the site is the right spot or whether the city should commit to the project before infrastructure, financing and long-term operational issues are ironed out.

The Boyer Avenue site, which is undergoing remediation for creosote, is an intriguing possibility because of its location near Super 1 Foods and its easy access to the heart of Sandpoint, DiBenedetto said.

"If we could get this site, that would fix so many issues, and the people that are naysayers wouldn't have much to complain about because we'd be cleaning up the site," he said.

The biggest drawback in DiBenedetto's mind is that he doesn't know who owns the site — or how to get in touch with them.

Other sites include one on Highway 2 near the lake, a portion of a city-owned 32-acre site in Sandpoint and a site in Dover.

"Everybody I've talked to with this has been so gracious about helping," DiBenedetto said. "People want this to happen. There's just so many funny little things that you have to work your way thorough."

While several sites remain under consideration, DiBenedetto said identifying the right site is a top objective.

Once a site is locked down, efforts would shift toward a capital campaign to fund both the community and recreation center, and an endowment fund to cover ongoing maintenance and operation. That campaign would touch on all aspects of giving, from large foundation grants to individual donations and business support. It would not, DiBenedetto said, include any tax funding.

DiBenedetto estimates it could cost anywhere from $80 million to $150 million to build the center, regardless of where the facility is eventually built. Funds will also be raised to create an endowment fund to offset the facility's ongoing maintenance and operation once it is built.

The nonprofit Ponderay Aquatic Center Endowment, the group leading the charge for the proposed community center, is leading private fundraising for the facility.

According to a market analysis from Ballard King, a national consulting firm that specializes in recreation and sports centers, the community has more than 11,000 people in its immediate service area of Ponderay and Sandpoint. Roughly 62,000 people live within a 45-minute drive of the center's proposed location, a number that expands to almost 92,000 if that drive time is increased to an hour.

In its analysis, Ballard King officials noted a growing trend toward indoor walking areas and pools, both of which are minimal in the area. The nationally recognized firm, which conducted the feasibility study for Coeur d'Alene's Kroc Center, determined the community could use another four or five pools and three or four ice rinks.

The newest plans call for a two-story structure with swimming pools, a diving well, three full-size basketball courts and both an indoor and an outdoor ice rink, as well as locker rooms, community and concessions areas and building support.

On the second floor, fitness and strength areas include a weight room, a fitness area and an indoor running track. The facility also includes a merchandise room, kitchen and community space, opening it up for fundraisers and events.

In total, the facility is roughly 170,000 square feet between the two floors, the outdoor rink and the parking area. DiBenedetto estimates he'll need at least 12 acres to build the facility the way he envisions, although a bigger site would allow for "fancier things" with the grounds.

"When we get the piece of land, the perfect piece of land, I think (the center) will be something we'll really be able to push," DiBenedetto said.