Recreation and Events Center: Third Town Hall Meeting Scheduled
Pierre, S.D. – The City of Pierre will host its third town hall meeting regarding a proposed recreation and events center on Monday, April 18. The meeting will be held in Amphitheater I of the Ramkota Convention Center and will begin at 7 p.m.
The April 18 town hall meeting will be the third and final meeting of a series of town hall meetings concerning the recreation and events center project. The first meeting was held in mid-December.
“The town hall meetings have really helped evolve the discussion,” said Pierre Mayor Laurie Gill. “Initially people just wanted general information about the recreation and events center proposal. By the second meeting, people wanted to know more about the potential of the facility. And now, financing is taking center stage.”
Mayor Gill said that she hopes to have new data concerning operating expense and revenue estimates available for the meeting on the 18th.
The City Commission is using input provided at the town hall meetings to help assist with the decision on how the commission should move forward with the rec center proposal.
People who aren’t able to attend a town hall meeting are encouraged to provide feedback at cityofpierre.org. A feedback tool has been established on the proposed recreation and events center page.
The proposed $14.5-million dollar facility would replace the recreation space that was lost when the City Auditorium was closed in 2011. As proposed, the recreation and events center would be 57,000 square feet and capable of accommodating a wide variety of organized sports activities, as well as regional tournaments, trade shows, small concerts, meetings, and other special events.
The proposal timeline suggests construction could begin as early as 2017 with the facility opening as soon as 2019.
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