Carol Johnson | Southern Indiana Business Report
JASPER – A large crowd turned out for the ground breaking of the Regional Wellness Center in Jasper Friday.
Located adjacent to the Parklands and not far from Jasper High School property, the Regional Wellness Center is a $30 million project that will offer health and fitness programs for all ages living in Dubois and surrounding counties.
Set for completion by the end of 2027, the Regional Wellness Center will be owned by the City of Jasper and managed by a branch of the Tri-County YMCA.
Jasper Mayor Ryan Craig described the project as “a unique partnership” and thanked previous Mayor Dean Vonderheide for building community support for the project. To date, that effort has raised $14.1 million in private donations from more than 90 donors that include individuals, families, businesses and foundations. The city also was awarded a $5 million READI 2.0 grant.
“Together, we are building a healthier future for Jasper and the region,” Craig said.
Tri-County YMCA Executive Director Mike Steffe thanked all those who were part of the planning process and spent hours in planning meetings and visiting 10 YMCAs in Indiana to determine the size and scope of the Regional Wellness Center.
“As we turn dirt today, we’re not just starting construction, we’re building something that will serve this community for generations,” Steffe said. “When future generations walk through these doors, they won’t just see a facility, they will feel the impact of the community that chose to invest in them. That is your legacy.”
Hafer and Associates led the design team for the project; Krempp Construction of Jasper is the general contractor.
Park Board President Roger Seger said the Regional Wellness Center will strengthen the region’s ability to attract and retain residents, which, in turn, will strengthen the region’s workforce. He pointed to projects such as the Parklands and the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center as recently completed projects that reflect the city’s commitment to investing in quality of place and population growth projects.
“If you look around at Jasper today, what we have is amazing,” Seger said.
Gov. Mike Braun, a Jasper native, said undertaking a project that focuses on health and wellness is an example of doing things right and doing them in the right order. He also said Jasper is a special place.
“We are savers, we are investors, we are hard workers. It’s a place based on faith, family and a sense of community,” Braun said.
Project details
The 68,000 square foot Regional Wellness Center will include a large fitness center, three full-court gyms, indoor elevated walking track, multiple group exercise studios, community rooms and a community kitchen. Plans also call for a Phase 2 of the facility, which will include construction of an indoor pool.