Livingston officials outline construction timeline, funding and naming plan for Katy Bunnell Park wellness center

City Manager Mr. Gager told the Livingston City Commission that construction of the community wellness center at Katy Bunnell Park is well under way and that the project team expects substantial completion in January 2027 and building readiness for occupancy in February 2027.

The update focused on four principal elements of the project: site and land transfers, the facility program, capital funding and operating arrangements. Mr. Gager said the building footprint sits inside the existing Katy Bunnell Park at North N and Gallatin streets and that agreements in principle are in place with BNSF Railway and Northwestern Energy to transfer adjacent parcels that would expand the park from about 1.7–1.8 acres to nearly five acres.

Mr. Gager described the interior program: a six‑lane lap pool, a second therapy/recreation pool with a shallow, beach‑style entry and a water slide, a regulation‑length gymnasium suitable for high school competition, multiple multipurpose/rental rooms and a fitness level with an elevated three‑lane walking track. He said the facility design includes independent and family changing rooms to improve safety and staffing flexibility.

On environmental and site safety, Mr. Gager said a Phase II environmental investigation and follow‑up testing were completed for portions of the site that fall inside a state superfund boundary, and that air and soil results cited in a January report were below the site‑specific health and safety plan and facility cleanup levels; he said the project team will install a sub‑slab soil‑gas venting system as an extra precaution.

On finances, Mr. Gager said the project budget for construction, engineering and site work is $23.6 million and that the foundation leading the build had raised about $22.7 million as of the morning of the presentation. He described an operating‑revenue approach that relies primarily on a special district property tax approved by voters on March 19, 2024, combined with resident free access and paid access for nonresidents. The presentation also showed an estimated annual operating budget of about $1.68 million, with roughly $1.18 million for salaries and benefits and about $500,000 for nonpersonnel expenses.

Mr. Gager said the lead donor, who had secured naming rights after a large gift, asked the city to select the facility name and requested that the word "wellness" appear in that name and that the name not honor an individual. He said staff will open a public portal and survey to collect name suggestions and that donor representatives will have an opportunity to review proposals before a final recommendation is presented to the commission.

Commissioners and members of the public raised questions about land transfers and parking, staffing and pay, the project’s tax impact, how the facility will prioritize local access, and winter operation of the water slide. Mr. Gager said the primary parking area is currently on BNSF land and will be leased for construction, with transfer to the city expected later; he said conduit for future electric vehicle charging was installed now to avoid re‑paving later. On staffing, he said the city expects to hire a mix of career and seasonal employees and that the project team has adjusted pay assumptions to attract and retain operators.

Public comment included concerns about tax burdens and usage. A local resident, Wanda, told the commission she had calculated the wellness center would be "one of the most expensive items on my tax bill" and urged continued monitoring of the facility’s long‑term cost and fairness of access. Another commenter asked that the legacy name Katy Bunnell Park be retained; Mr. Gager said the park name will remain Katy Bunnell Park and that the wellness center would be the named facility at that park.

The presentation did not include a new formal action item for the commission; it was provided as an informational update. Staff said they will continue outreach on programming, finalize detailed operating assumptions and return to the commission with naming recommendations and any items that require formal approval.

Occupancy remains scheduled for February 2027 pending completion of punch‑list work and final inspections.