Fundraising for WECRD center to begin this year

An effort aimed at raising more than a half million dollars to build a community recreation center in Mountain Home is now set to begin later this year.

Representatives with the Treasure Valley YMCA will launch the capital campaign more than a year after it received a tentative "green light" to proceed with the fundraising initiative.

To succeed, the capital campaign needs to raise at least $600,000, which would tie into existing funds set aside to build this community recreation facility. Measuring 37,000 square feet, the proposed $4.7 million facility would house two basketball courts and an indoor running track with additional space dedicated to other fitness and recreation outlets.

If built, the Treasure Valley YMCA and Western Elmore County Recreation District would manage this recreation complex, located on South 18th East Street across from Mountain Home Junior High School.

The facility represents the first part of a two-phase project. The second phase includes plans to build an indoor swimming pool.

The pool was originally considered the primary purpose for forming the local recreation district and was based on the recommendations of a blue ribbon commission back in 1997.

Before the fundraising effort starts, the YMCA will tackle a separate effort in coming weeks aimed at addressing a number of questions and concerns regarding the community recreation facility. Those questions were aired at previous public meetings.

During a working group meeting last October, community representatives, business owners and concerned citizens emphasized that a number of questions remain unresolved with this project.

In short, those backing the initiative need to do a better job communicating what they are trying the achieve and why, said Heather Kimmel, vice president and chief fund development officer with the YMCA during that October meeting.

"In order to start the capital campaign, we had to make sure that we were reaching out to the community," added Keyra Elmo, who was hired by the Treasure Valley YMCA in April to head the capital campaign effort.

To reach out to the community and gain its full support, it's important to identify every question people have regarding this recreation center and to answer each one, Elmo said.

For example, people were continually asking for details on the proposed recreation center, specifically the building's features and the programs it would offer.

In addition, major questions continue to surface regarding the project's construction details as well as its day-to-day operating costs, according to Kimmel. Concerns were also raised on whether more than a half million dollars in grant money would become immediately available if construction on the facility moves forward.

Questions also surfaced on how this proposed community center would interact with existing recreation and fitness providers in the Mountain Home community, including the city parks and recreation department.

While many of these questions were already addressed, that information was only given to specific groups or individuals versus the community as a whole, Elmo said. This is why the YMCA is going back to not only answer these questions but to disseminate that information to the Mountain Home community through public meetings.

The YMCA plans to hold a series of town hall-style meetings starting next month to give the community a chance to ask questions regarding the project and to get definitive answers.

"Hopefully, we can move forward from that and then start on the capital campaign" to bring that community recreation facility here, Elmo said.

The ability to raise $600,000 during the upcoming capital campaign is clearly possible, Kimmel said. Information collected during a feasibility study conducted in April 2011 identified several individuals in the local area willing to provide various types of financial support.

Elmo remains equally optimistic that this project will come together with construction starting before the first of the federal grants expires in December 2015.

"The recreation district already has a large portion of the money that's needed to build this facility," she said. "Once the community sees the benefit of the 'Y' here and what it'll bring, they'll be all for it."

Even if the capital campaign falls short, the community recreation centre can still proceed, Elmo said. It would simply be delayed until the district is able to raise enough money to make up the difference that the capital campaign was unable to collect.

Elmo invited people in the Mountain Home community to contact her or the YMCA to provide constructive feedback regarding the recreation center and what's needed to make it a reality in Mountain Home. For details, call the YMCA at 344-5502, extension 262.