High Desert Christian Academy seeks county help to turn old hospital into youth and community hub

High Desert Christian Academy asked the Crook County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday for financial support to finish a facility assessment and small remodel that would let the nonprofit convert the old hospital property into a community hub for childcare, trades training, recreation and counseling.

The school’s vice president, Dwayne Porter, told commissioners the project aims to provide “a place where they can recreate, where they can learn, where they can be safe.” Mandy Puckett, HDCA’s community relations director, and architect Seth Anderson of Sage Architecture outlined a phased plan and a near‑term funding request to make the campus “move‑in ready” for partner tenants.

Why it matters: county, city and parks officials said the site could relieve space constraints for childcare, youth athletics and public‑safety training in Prineville and central Crook County — services county leaders and Parks & Recreation officials told the board are in short supply as the county grows.

What HDCA asked for: the group presented three immediate needs. The largest is a full facility and property assessment covering roughly 12–13 acres and all buildings to identify code, occupancy and remodel requirements; HDCA provided a cost estimate in its packet of about $115,000 for that work. A second near‑term need is roughly $40,000 to finish two childcare rooms that are “a few thousand dollars away” from opening. The third need is modest funding to support a paid hub coordinator to move multiple grants and tenant negotiations forward instead of relying entirely on volunteers.

Sage Architecture explained the assessment would evaluate conversion issues tied to changing a hospital building to assembly, childcare and recreation uses, identify code and occupancy permits required for tenants, and provide a campus master plan so short‑term work does not have to be redone later. Seth Anderson said the firm has prepared two price options: one to assess the whole campus at once and one for phased work, and noted phased work is generally more expensive and risks redoing prior work.

Partners and uses described: HDCA and partners described childcare and K–12 dual‑enrollment already operating in part of the campus, and a demand for additional rooms; proposed uses included career and trades academies, gym space and ball fields (to be shared with Parks & Recreation), mental‑health counseling in a separate tax lot (the former hospice building), and a city training room for public‑safety use near the police department footprint. Steve Waring, executive director of the Cook County Parks and Recreation District, said the basement could be repurposed for indoor batting cages, martial arts, e‑sports and recreation classes and that park fees and program revenue could support operating costs under a cost‑recovery model.

Funding context: presenters said they have applied for multiple federal and state grants and secured letters of support from local civic groups, but several funders asked “where’s the county and city?” as evidence of local commitment before awarding construction or renovation dollars. Mandy Puckett said grant windows are often short and emphasized the need to show local “skin in the game” to unlock matching grant dollars. The group provided a packet showing received match funds and forecasted asks; they said precise long‑range construction estimates depend on the facility assessment.

Board response: commissioners and the city manager said they were sympathetic but cautioned that county budgets are tight. Commissioner Barney and others said the request would have to be discussed with the county finance staff and would not be decided that day. City Manager Steve Forrester said the city is discussing a parking‑lot expansion and that the city’s decision could be influenced by whatever the county chooses to do.

Next steps: HDCA asked the board to consider funding the facility assessment and other Phase‑1 items; they said they will continue to pursue federal and state grants and return with refined requests after assessment results. Presenters invited county staff to review the assessment scope and to coordinate funding conversations with the city and Parks & Recreation.