Community center idea rises again

The idea of building a community wellness center has not died.

Coulee Area Park and Recreation District commissioners talked Monday night about reviving the topic for further pursuit after a couple years of its stagnation.

“We could maybe get that thing back on the table in a discussion mode,” Commissioner Bob Valen said. “I would like to see it resurrected again.”

Although still enthusiastic, Valen said he was not optimistic, knowing the cost of such a project. He said when CAPRD explored the idea a few years ago, architects gave a rough estimate of $7 million needed to build a facility that could house a year-round community swimming pool and much more.

Commissioner Debbie Bigelow, retired chief executive officer at Coulee Medical Center, noted the hospital could rent out space in a new facility to doctors and other specialists in the medical field, which could help cover operating expenses.

The wellness center idea, which has gone through various phases since its original inception in 2009 in community meetings, was last being explored by CMC, fizzled for lack of funding avenues at the time, or a willingness to pursue them instead of other priorities.

Commissioner Ben Hughes, who currently works for the hospital, volunteered to check on last known contacts for the group that had been working on it.

Commissioners agreed to contact that group to try to start discussions again by fall.