Questions come as proposed rec center makes online debut

Apr. 7—Though the first shovel has yet to be pushed into the ground for a groundbreaking, the proposed Crossville Recreation Center has sprung to life online.

A website — CrossvilleRecreationCenter.com — and Facebook presence feature an artist's depiction of what the $39.568 million center is anticipated to look like, as well as sleek photos of an indoor pool, exercise and gym facilities.

The website also has a button at the bottom that allows people to click and submit their questions.

"Within the first 24 hours, we had like 40 questions," said Mike Terry of E. Allen Brandon, a Murfreesboro firm retained to promote the center in the community.

"Within the first 48, it added up to about 70, and we're working through — we're going to answer every single one of them."

A FAQ section will be added to the website soon. Terry said the most frequent questions pertain to where the center will be located and when it will be ready. There are also a lot of questions about membership rates.

"People are starting to engage with it and they're looking at all the documents that's up there," said Terry, who is also distributing slick color brochures throughout the community.

He and architect Kevin Chamberlin of Upland Design Group made presentations on the proposed center during Crossville City Council's work session last week.

The meeting was also attended by Mandy Perhay, CEO of the Putnam County YMCA, which is on board to operate the facility for the city.

"We've been working hard behind the scenes," said Chamberlin, whose presentation was in concert with Chad Crow of American Constructors on hand via Zoom.

The site city officials have chosen for the proposed recreation center is on N. Main St. across from Crossville City Hall. One thing Chamberlin said Upland is looking at is the potential closure or rerouting of Livingston Rd., which runs alongside the chosen site.

"TDOT may have an issue moving the intersection," Chamberlin noted about the intersection that crosses North Main St. and links Penfield and Genesis roads.

Features Chamberlin pointed out that will be included in the center include the gymnasium, an indoor pool, a fitness area, exercise rooms, a child-care center, spectator seating, a flat walking track on the third floor and three flex meeting spaces — two with 700 square feet and one with 600 square feet — that could open up to a maximum capacity of 125.

"I've been listening to people say they'd like to see it more," said council member Mike Turner. "That there would be more meetings than we ever thought of."

Council member Art Gernt agreed.

"That's not enough," he said.

They said events often exceed that capacity and used the Crossville Rotary Club's annual Father-Daughter Dance as an example.

"We're squeezing this thing down," Gernt said. "Almost instantly we're going to regret doing some of these things."

Crow recommended splitting up or opening the gym to for larger-capacity meetings and events.

"I think that's where you'd like to have a dance or a ball," Perhay said.

She also suggested switching the casual child care area to give greater capacity along the area with the flex meeting rooms.

"Then you'd have a big space there," she added.

The switching of the areas would also give parents a vantage point to see children in the casual area, Chamberlin said.

Both he and Crow said they are committed to bringing the project in under or as close to budget as possible.

"Our biggest concern is making sure that this is a facility that's going to withstand the test of time and be here for multi-generations, but also fiscally responsible and making good decisions for you guys and the constituents," Chamberlin said.

Crow said construction of the center should take 18-20 months after ground is broken.

Contact Cheryl Duncan at cduncan@crossville-chronicle.com or 931-484-5145.