By Bonnie Culverhouse
With the purchase of more property on the road leading to Minden’s Recreation Center, the city council hopes to not only make the area fields of dreams but viable for the city.
“I believe this may be the last piece of the property we will buy,” said Mayor Nick Cox, when the council approved the purchase of 3 acres for $410,000 on Recreation Drive. “But we will see …”
The property belonged to Jimmy Hall and was approved for purchase at the appraised value.
During a workshop Monday, possible plans were discussed to renovate and expand the Rec Center to better meet the needs of Minden residents and make a sports/tourism destination.
Jamie Greene, a representative with Strategic Planning, a consulting company, made a presentation via Zoom.
Greene said steps include developing a drafted plan, a fund-raising plan, get input from the public, request for proposals, award a contract and then market the complex.
“Our Rec Center is 23 years old and in 23 years, we have been left behind,” Cox said in an earlier interview. “The sports world has changed quite a bit in 23 years. Back then, rec centers were just for enjoyment. Now, you have to take rec centers and turn them into a business.”
As Cox pointed out, the Rec Center currently loses money by charging $20 per year for membership and $40 for kids to play sports.
While the Rec Center primarily has fields for baseball and softball, popularity for kids has spread to numerous other sports, such as soccer, football, basketball and pickle ball.
“We have been talking to a turf company that led us to a consulting company, Synergy Sports Global, that advised us in ways to spend our money wisely,” the mayor said.
Some studies with funding were already approved, Cox said, and he was surprised at the demand for sports and tourism.
“If we could target tournaments, the demand is there for it,” he said. “If we turf the fields, we will be the third biggest center in the area. Then if we host tournaments, we can make money that will help us keep the Rec Center viable.”