(KIWA Staff Photo)
Larchwood, Iowa (Sioux County Radio) — A project nearly a decade in the making is moving closer to construction after the Larchwood City Council voted Monday night to seek bids for a new community center.
The proposed facility is expected to cost about $4.25 million and would be built in the Northern Acres addition on the north side of town. No oral or written objections were received during a public hearing July 13th, and the council voted to move forward with the bid process. The final cost will be determined once bids are received.
Replacing an Aging Facility
The proposed 18,825-square-foot community center would replace Larchwood’s existing Recreation Center, built in the 1950s. The building originally served students from Larchwood Public School and St. Mary School before West Lyon Community School opened in 1967. It was later converted into a recreation center, but city planning materials say the building has deteriorated and no longer adequately serves the community.
Larchwood previously explored replacing the building in 2014, hiring an architectural firm to design a new center at the current site. Plans were developed but never advanced.
Interest resurfaced in September 2024 after a young Larchwood homeowner asked the council how he could support building a new center. That discussion led to the creation of the New Larchwood Community Center Committee and the “Building for the Future” campaign.
A Decade of Financial Preparation
Mayor Ken Kerkvliet says the city began saving for a new center long before the current proposal.
Stone Group Architects was hired to help guide the revived project. After reviewing community survey results and the limitations of the existing location, the committee recommended building in the southwest corner of Northern Acres. The council approved the location change in April.
Kerkvliet says earlier disagreements over where to place the site have largely been resolved, and the Northern Acres property provides enough space for the facility, parking, and possible future development.
Plans Reflect Community Priorities
Residents were surveyed about which amenities mattered most.
The centerpiece would be an 8,360-square-foot multi-use gymnasium with an eight-foot-wide walking track. The gym could be configured for:
- one full-size basketball court
- two volleyball courts
- three pickleball courts
- or two cross-court basketball courts
It could also host up to 38 vender booths during community events.
Other planned spaces include:
- 2,070-square-foot fitness room
- 1,200-square-foot aerobics room
- 850-square-foot kitchen
- 1,430-square-foot community room (approx. 100-person capacity)
The kitchen would contain two islands, two refrigerators, two stoves, two microwaves, two sinks, and serving windows to the community room and gymnasium.
Additional features include an entrance lobby, family restroom with adult changing station, men’s and women’s changing areas and showers, equipment storage, and 2,851 square feet of upper-level storage for community organizations.
Electronic key-fob access would allow the city to manage memberships, restrict access when needed, and offer 24-hour entry to approved members.
The project also includes about 100 off-street parking spaces, direct access from Chestnut Avenue, and room for a future park east of the building.
Funding the $4.25 Million Project
Along with the city’s $1.5 million in savings, businesses and individuals have donated or pledged more than $400,000 toward the project. The city has also received a $350,000 Riverboat Foundation grant.
Larchwood has applied for a $1 million Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant through the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Kerkvliet says the application missed the July review window and is expected to be considered in August.
If awarded the full grant, the city expects to borrow about $1 million to complete the project.
During a June 25th informational meeting, Kerkvliet addressed a legally required notice outlining how much property taxes could increase if the city borrowed the full amount. He said that the maximum-borrowing scenario does not represent the city’s actual plan.
The city expects to repay the loan by continuing to set aside $100,000 annually and using pledged donations, local-option sales tax revenue, funding connected to Grand Falls and the Riverboat Foundation, and existing property tax revenue.
Officials acknowledge future circumstances could change, but they say the current financing plan does not call for a property tax increase specifically for the community center loan.
The city is continuing to accept donations and multiyear pledges to reduce the amount it ultimately needs to borrow.
Construction Could Begin This Fall
Following Monday’s vote, the city and Stone Group Architects will advertise the project and invite contractors to submit bids.
Kerkvliet says the city could open bids around September, although the formal bid package will establish the final deadlines and construction expectations.
The construction schedule will depend on bids received and contractor availability.
