Big Spring council signals support to pursue police and fire fitness center at McMahan Airpark

City staff said they will proceed with planning and fundraising steps for a dedicated police and fire fitness center at McMahan Airpark after a discussion at the Big Spring City Council meeting in May.

Staff presented the proposal, explained the project’s current budget gap and described donated fitness equipment that would reduce the city’s out-of-pocket equipment costs.

The center grew out of an offer from the Dora Roberts Rehabilitation Foundation to donate exercise equipment and $165,000 for rubber flooring and related items. “They gave a hundred and $65,000 for new rubber flooring for the building, as well as the free weights and other exercise equipment,” a staff member reported during the meeting. Staff later said an architectural firm, Jacob Martin, produced a preliminary construction estimate that raised the total renovation cost to about $501,822, leaving roughly a $300,000 shortfall…