Everett Community College wants to build a $20 million athletic complex on campus in the next few years.
And it could be open to a much wider clientele than students if the college and city of Everett can cut a deal.
Both sides have committed to study building the center as well as athletic fields that both students and Everett residents could use.
“What their needs are and what our needs are match up almost perfectly,” said Michael Kerns, EvCC’s vice president of administrative services.
The complex will need to serve EvCC students and athletes, Kerns said. It will focus on a growing set of academic health-care programs, such as new classes in physical therapy assistance.
The complex will include a gym, a fitness center with weights and exercise equipment, classroom space for aerobics and yoga, academic classrooms, an indoor walking track, a climbing wall and a lounge.
Racquetball and squash courts also will be considered.
If the college does the project on its own, the center would cover about 45,000 square feet. It could be larger if the city is involved.
“If we needed to, we could do it on our own, but if we could partner with the city we could build a better facility,” Kerns said.
The college will collect between $7 million and $9 million in student-approved fees over the next 20 years toward building the center.
It also has $8 million from a land swap it made with Providence Everett Medical Center, which will gradually expand onto college grounds, including the tennis courts, fields and the existing gym at 1815 13th St.
The Everett City Council last week approved an agreement with the college to analyze project possibilities.
“It’s not like we haven’t discussed these concepts in the past,” said Paul Kaftanski, the city’s parks director. “Typically, we come to decisions efficiently when we have a date set.”
The city and college set target dates to move their work forward. They include:
Oct. 31: To complete an analysis on the athletic and recreation center. The study will include programs, construction and operations costs, potential property acquisition and ownership issues.
Jan. 31: To complete an analysis of whether an athletic field complex is feasible for college and city needs. It, too, would look at program needs, construction and operations costs and land issues.
“If we can craft an arrangement where we are both satisfied that both of our programming needs are met, we could get very good facilities and end up spending less dollars and not duplicate facilities,” Kaftanski said.
The key is to agree on a scheduling arrangement so students and residents can use the complex or fields without interfering with one another, officials said.
One of the first orders of business will be to sign an agreement that will move the college’s men’s and women’s soccer programs to Kasch Park in south Everett for practices and games.
Kaftanski said the arrangement is a great example of how the city and college can work together to serve both their needs.
College players typically practice after classes early in the afternoon when the fields aren’t in demand, he said.
The college is losing its soccer field after the land swap with the hospital.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
