The Zeeland Recreation Center, located at the east end of Cityside Middle School, has been home to community fitness and recreation programs since 2008. But some city leaders say there aren’t enough facilities in town to keep up with the demand for recreation programs, and the city will move ahead with a study to see if a city-owned recreation center is feasible.
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
City officials in Zeeland are moving ahead with seeking proposals from interested firms who would conduct a study on the feasibility of a community recreation center in the city.
The council by consensus on Aug. 18 agreed to give Assistant City Manager Kevin Plockmeyer the go-ahead to send out requests for proposals for the study, which would address such questions as where the center could be located, how much it would cost to build and operate the facility, and any potential partnerships with other stakeholders.
The recreation center feasibility study had been identified as a goal in the city’s strategic action plan for this year, Plockmeyer said.
“An RFP for a feasibility study does not mean we need to construct a recreation center,” Plockmeyer said. “We went down this same path with an ice rink (proposal). We decided that the ultimate cost and the benefit was not what we were looking for. We can go down this path in a very similar manner.”
Zeeland has a bustling recreation program, based out of the east end of the Cityside Middle School building, that includes youth sports, fitness classes, dance instruction and programs for seniors. The recreation center has been in existence since 2008. However, some city leaders say there aren’t enough facilities in town to accommodate the demand for recreation programs.
“We put kids on wait lists. I never want to see that,” said Councilman Phung Lam, who has coached in the Zeeland Recreation program for at least 12 years. “We have thousands of kids that want to start out in soccer. We can barely get enough places (to practice or play), because we don’t have fields.”
In some cases, Lam says, people leave the city to find recreation opportunities in other communities. “That drives me nuts,” he said.
Councilman Rick Van Dorp agreed with Lam.
“There’s definitely demand,” said Van Dorp, who serves on the Zeeland Recreation board. “There’s always space issues at Zeeland Rec … especially during the day. They’re pretty much at capacity.”
Mayor Pro Tem Sally Gruppen expressed concern that part of the reason for the demand for additional facilities may be because children from outside Zeeland are taking part in the recreation program.
“What I don’t know is – are we accepting kids from outside areas into our program, which is making some kids not be able to be in our own program … Are we taking children (from communities) that have their own rec programs?” Gruppen said.
Zeeland Recreation participants who do not live in Zeeland pay non-resident fees to participate in their programs, Van Dorp said.
Zeeland Recreation Director Brett Geertsma says participation is continuing to grow in all areas of the recreation program. Its fitness center now has more than 850 active members, the most in its history, Geertsma wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record.
“Seniors memberships and classes are in high demand, especially because many are covered by health insurance, and include a broad selection of classes tailored for 60 years-plus,” Geertsma wrote.
“Our fitness center's growing demand reflects the popularity of our recently upgraded second-floor weight and cardio room, which features top-tier cardio machines, strength equipment, and free-weight stations, all complemented by our two pools and expert-led, high-quality group fitness classes.”
Zeeland Recreation offers nearly 60 fitness classes weekly, “many of which consistently reach full capacity,” Geertsma wrote.
Van Dorp does not see the city as the sole backer of a new recreation center. “I’d like to see a partnership of some sort,” he said.
Possible partners in a recreation facility could include Zeeland Recreation, The Bridge Youth Center or Evergreen Commons, Plockmeyer said.
“We’re looking for other stakeholders in this,” he said.
The city has set aside $50,000 in this year’s budget for the feasibility study, and is expected to award a contract by the end of the year, Plockmeyer said.
Zeeland Record
City officials in Zeeland are moving ahead with seeking proposals from interested firms who would conduct a study on the feasibility of a community recreation center in the city.
The council by consensus on Aug. 18 agreed to give Assistant City Manager Kevin Plockmeyer the go-ahead to send out requests for proposals for the study, which would address such questions as where the center could be located, how much it would cost to build and operate the facility, and any potential partnerships with other stakeholders.
The recreation center feasibility study had been identified as a goal in the city’s strategic action plan for this year, Plockmeyer said.
“An RFP for a feasibility study does not mean we need to construct a recreation center,” Plockmeyer said. “We went down this same path with an ice rink (proposal). We decided that the ultimate cost and the benefit was not what we were looking for. We can go down this path in a very similar manner.”
Zeeland has a bustling recreation program, based out of the east end of the Cityside Middle School building, that includes youth sports, fitness classes, dance instruction and programs for seniors. The recreation center has been in existence since 2008. However, some city leaders say there aren’t enough facilities in town to accommodate the demand for recreation programs.
“We put kids on wait lists. I never want to see that,” said Councilman Phung Lam, who has coached in the Zeeland Recreation program for at least 12 years. “We have thousands of kids that want to start out in soccer. We can barely get enough places (to practice or play), because we don’t have fields.”
In some cases, Lam says, people leave the city to find recreation opportunities in other communities. “That drives me nuts,” he said.
Councilman Rick Van Dorp agreed with Lam.
“There’s definitely demand,” said Van Dorp, who serves on the Zeeland Recreation board. “There’s always space issues at Zeeland Rec … especially during the day. They’re pretty much at capacity.”
Mayor Pro Tem Sally Gruppen expressed concern that part of the reason for the demand for additional facilities may be because children from outside Zeeland are taking part in the recreation program.
“What I don’t know is – are we accepting kids from outside areas into our program, which is making some kids not be able to be in our own program … Are we taking children (from communities) that have their own rec programs?” Gruppen said.
Zeeland Recreation participants who do not live in Zeeland pay non-resident fees to participate in their programs, Van Dorp said.
Zeeland Recreation Director Brett Geertsma says participation is continuing to grow in all areas of the recreation program. Its fitness center now has more than 850 active members, the most in its history, Geertsma wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record.
“Seniors memberships and classes are in high demand, especially because many are covered by health insurance, and include a broad selection of classes tailored for 60 years-plus,” Geertsma wrote.
“Our fitness center's growing demand reflects the popularity of our recently upgraded second-floor weight and cardio room, which features top-tier cardio machines, strength equipment, and free-weight stations, all complemented by our two pools and expert-led, high-quality group fitness classes.”
Zeeland Recreation offers nearly 60 fitness classes weekly, “many of which consistently reach full capacity,” Geertsma wrote.
Van Dorp does not see the city as the sole backer of a new recreation center. “I’d like to see a partnership of some sort,” he said.
Possible partners in a recreation facility could include Zeeland Recreation, The Bridge Youth Center or Evergreen Commons, Plockmeyer said.
“We’re looking for other stakeholders in this,” he said.
The city has set aside $50,000 in this year’s budget for the feasibility study, and is expected to award a contract by the end of the year, Plockmeyer said.
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