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Consultants present Phase 1 of De Soto community-center master plan; residents favor gym, indoor walking and limited aquatics
Summary
Consultants told the council Phase 1 outreach logged more than 400 survey responses and multiple engagement events; priorities include indoor walking, gymnasium space and some aquatics, with about half of respondents indicating willingness to pay $10-$30 per month toward a facility.
Consultants Jean Stoberink (Clark & Anderson) and Chris Kostelic (Studio CKA) presented Phase 1 of a community-center feasibility study at the May 7 De Soto City Council meeting.
The presentation summarized outreach (three pop-up events, focus groups, a hometown hall and over 400 survey responses), market and demographic analysis, and preliminary program priorities. Key findings included high public interest in indoor year-round walking space, additional gymnasium space and some level of aquatics; consultants reported that roughly 50% of survey respondents indicated a willingness to pay between $10 and $30 per month for a community facility.
Consultants recommended a cautious, phased approach: a hybrid program that balances dry amenities (gym, fitness, multiuse spaces) with limited aquatics in an initial phase and leaves open the possibility of expanded aquatic programming in a later phase if funding allows. They identified a preferred site south of the high school and west of El Patron restaurant and outlined next steps including programming, benchmarking tours and conceptual design toward an October study conclusion.
Council members commended the public-engagement process and suggested exploring sponsorship or naming-rights opportunities and careful cost analysis in Phase 2.
What's next: Phase 2 will include programming decisions, conceptual designs, cost estimating and a site analysis that addresses stormwater, access and operational costs.
