City manager details progress, funding and timeline for Livingston community wellness center

City Manager Mister Gager updated the Livingston City Commission on the community wellness center project, describing the site at Katy Bunnell Park, the building program, capital funding raised so far and an operating model that uses a property-tax supported operating district plus a private endowment.

The update matters because the project was approved by voters in a March 19, 2024 referendum to create a special district to support operations, the building is under construction on privately donated money and the city and private partners are negotiating land transfers and operating arrangements that affect public access and future tax impacts.

Mister Gager told the commission the foundation-led project is sited at Katy Bunnell Park, with parking accessed off Gallatin Street and supplemental land under discussion with BNSF Railway and Northwestern Energy that could expand the park footprint. "BNSF has provided the primary parking lot for the facility," he said, and the city has agreements in principle to receive additional parcels that together could expand the park to nearly five acres.

Inside the building, the first floor will include a six-lane lap pool, a separate therapy/recreation pool with a zero-entry area and a current, a gymnasium sized for regulation high school basketball, three multipurpose rooms and child-watch areas; the second floor will include a fitness area and a three-lane elevated walking track. The design includes independent and family changing rooms to increase flexibility for staffing and safer operations, Gager said.

On capital funding, Gager said the project budget for construction, engineering and site work is $23.6 million and that the foundation had raised $22.7 million as of the morning of the presentation. "That funding is sufficient to complete the structure," he said, while noting some add-ons such as an outdoor water slide are alternates the foundation may add as fundraising continues.

Gager said Swank is the general contractor and showed recent construction photos; he and staff expect substantial completion in January 2027 and occupancy in February 2027, barring weather or other delays. He also described a radon-mitigation vent system under the slab as a design response to concerns from commissioners.

On operations, Gager said Livingston residents will have free access and nonresidents will pay. He described the project’s operating model as different from a pass-based revenue model used in some larger cities: the voters approved a property-tax supported special district for operating support, and the project foundation is also pledging an operating endowment. "The foundation's also committed to a $5,000,000 operating endowment to support the structure," he said, adding the endowment is intended to support access for youth and help stabilize operations.

Gager also announced the lead donor relinquished naming rights and asked the city to open a public process for naming the facility; he said the donor requested the word "wellness" be included in the name and that the donor preferred the name denote regional benefit and not be a personal name. "The donor has asked that the word 'wellness' be included in the name," Mister Gager said.

Commissioners asked about land transfers, parking, possible closure of M Street for a future sports field, electric vehicle charging provision, the slide’s winter operability and staffing and pay levels. Gager said the conduit for EV charging was installed proactively and that the slide can be operated in winter; he said staffing wages and schedules were being planned to attract both career pool staff and seasonal workers and that the foundation would support youth access programs.

Public commenters raised affordability and tax concerns, questioned whether the tax impact had been clearly communicated during the referendum and asked that existing park names and local history be respected in any naming process. Gager said park name Katy Bunnell Park will be retained and that the wellness center name would be the facility name at that park. He said program pricing details were still under analysis and would be announced later so staff could balance resident access with capacity management.

The presentation closed with staff and commissioners thanking the project team and community partners and confirming the commission will receive further updates on operating plans and the parks master plan, which will include maintenance and public-art restoration policies.