Southern Indiana Business Report
JASPER – The Regional Wellness Center planned for Jasper moved a step closer to reality today with the announcement of a land acquisition.
Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools has agreed to sell a 10-acre site to the city of Jasper to be used for the new Regional Wellness Center. Jasper and Tri-County YMCA are partnering on the facility to increase the number of children, families, adults and seniors who will have access to much-needed indoor recreation, wellness and aquatic facilities and programs.
The site is located between the Parklands and Jasper High School. According to a press release, the city sold the property to the Greater Jasper School Corporation in 2013 in conjunction with the development of the 75-acre Parklands, to serve as a possible site for future Greater Jasper growth opportunities.
Since that time, the GJCS has determined that its needs are better served by other properties.
“We could not be more excited than to have this wonderful property serve as the location for the new Regional Wellness Center,” said Dr. Tracy Lorey GJCS superintendent. “To be located adjacent to the Parklands and easily accessible for our Jasper High School students and faculty, we felt it was a win/win for all organizations involved in this partnership and the community at-large.”
“The City of Jasper, and all of the stakeholders in the new Regional Wellness Center want to thank Dr. Lorey and the School Board members for agreeing to sell the property,” said Mayor Dean Vonderheide. “This property clearly became our preferred site for the new facility. With finalizing our project location, we are very excited to continue to secure the necessary funding to allow this important visionary community project to become reality.”
A capital campaign has secured more than $6 million in pledges. An update and more information about the capital campaign will be announced in late spring or early summer.
The proposed 90,000 square foot facility will include an 8,000 sq. ft. fitness center, four full-court gymnasiums, 14,000 sq. ft. indoor aquatic center, indoor elevated walking track, four group exercise studios, and five community rooms including a community kitchen. An additional 19,000 square foot Early Learning Center is in the planning stages as a future phase of the project.
“Greater Jasper School Corporation and the Tri-County YMCA have developed a great partnership in recent years in addressing school age child care needs, ” Mike Steffe, CEO of the Tri-County YMCA commented. “We look forward to expanding our partnership to provide additional opportunities, including a future Early Learning Center located at the site to serve children ages 3-5.”
To learn more about the plans for the new Regional Wellness Center, contact Mayor Dean Vonderheide at (812) 482-4255 or [email protected], or Mike Steffe, Tri-County YMCA CEO at (812) 367-2323 or [email protected].