Some projects will take years, some will start in months
The Henderson City Commission met in a joint session with the Parks and Recreation Board Tuesday evening, putting together a list of the top-ranked projects to pursue in both the near- and far-term.
At the top of the list is a new aquatic center. Right underneath it is a pickleball complex. Both those projects will take some time to complete, with an estimated five to seven years from start to finish for an aquatic center and a pickleball complex—constructed at a level that includes indoor courts, which is what local pickleballers asked for at the meeting—would take three to four years, said officials.
Additionally, they will take millions of dollars to get completed. Mayor Brad Staton said that a pickeball complex would probably cost between $1.5 and $2.5 million.
He said a basic swimming pool, with similar amenities as Atkinson Park Pool, is in the $3 million to $5 million range. An indoor-outdoor pool would probably cost in the $8 million to $10 million range, Staton said.
He said the city would not use taxpayer dollars for the entirety of either project, and said that partnerships with stakeholders as well as grants, naming rights, donors and sponsors would be key to getting both projects completed.
City Manager Dylan Ward said there’s currently a $500,000 placeholder connected to Parks and Recreation projects in next fiscal year’s budget. That money could be used to start the planning process for the top “big-ticket” projects, officials said.
In the meantime, city officials plan to start other, less expensive projects in the next fiscal year. One of those plans, an overhaul of Anthony Brooks Park, is expected to start in the fall or next spring, Staton said.
Plans include ziplines, swings, a splash pad, a restroom, rubberized play areas, walking paths and a block wall.
The Henderson Veterans Memorial Foundation is leading the charge to build a Veterans Memorial Park, planned to be built on the open space across from Rhythm River Distillery on Water Street.
At a March meeting, Tom Davis, president of the Veterans Memorial Foundation, expressed frustration that a plan for the park included in the recent Parks Master Plan was very different from what the foundation had planned. Staton said the city had a recent meeting with Veterans Memorial Foundation officials recently, and foundation officials are set with a plan that the mayor said will get built. .
Another project is a drive-in movie theater at the SportsPlex on Airline Road.
“The idea of it is pretty far along,” Staton said.
He said the city could use an electronic billboard to show films at the assigned movie times, and at other times, the billboard could be used to promote the SportsPlex from its spot along Audubon Parkway.
He said it’s at the conceptual stage, but if all works out, drive-in movies could return to Henderson for the first time since Starlite Movie Theater closed in 2005, perhaps by next year.
Staton likes the drive-in idea because it provides an amenity to people and is also a money maker that can help pay for itself, which is similar to another proposal—an events center that people can rent out for gatherings in Atkinson Park.
Additionally, another proposal looks to expand trails throughout the city, including the creation of mountain bike trails within Atkinson Park.
Rounding out the list are:
- ADA accessibility upgrades at all the parks
- Creating a preventative maintenance plan for equipment
- A playground improvement plan
- Implementing a reservation policy for park shelters
- Events and programming that the Parks and Recreation Department implements
Much of the discussion at Tuesday’s meeting revolved around the city’s aging Atkinson Park Pool. Officials at the meeting expressed concern that it will not survive long enough to provide swimming until a new pool can be built.
Chris Stachewicz, parks and recreation superintendent, said the city would be very lucky to keep the pool useable for another three years. Stachewicz, and others, said the pool has been on its last leg for numerous years.
Carole Mattingly, who spoke in representation of local pickleballers, said the group is willing to write grants, conduct fundraising and work collaboratively with the city to move a pickleball complex project forward.
“This has become a sport of the future,” Mattingly said.
Apparently, others at the meeting agreed. It was a top project on the list of most of the city commission and parks and rec board members. Also discussed was the “Pickleball Pit,” a privately funded complex that was planned for the old Skateway U.S.A. Assistant City Manager Buzzy Newman said the plan to dig down and create a pit where the courts would be located was not feasible. He also said there were issues with ADA accessibility.
Parks and Recreation Board member Dr. Melanie Lee urged caution when pursuing projects and said that parts of the master plan risk overdevelopment. She spoke about maintaining and respecting the natural aspects of the city’s parks.
