E-Mail
Print
The design was approved by the Leitchfield Tourism Commission Monday morning during the regular monthly meeting.
The new design was present by Alison Baker, an architectural intern from Murphy - Graves, a Lexington based firm hired by the commissioners.
The new aquatic center will host two large winding slides, volleyball play area, three lap lanes with a diving board, a 250’ lazy river, a separate toddler pool, a zero gravity entrance area with a large play-on structure and two pavilions with umbrella covered tables with chairs.
Tourism Director Ilsa Johnson said the commission will use 45% - 50% of their yearly budget on the aquatic center, budgeting approximately $300,000 for yearly bond payments and operational expenses.
The new aquatic center will be constructed on land purchased by the tourism commission last year off of Wallace Ave., next to the new Elizabethtown Community and Technical Center campus.
The start date for construction has not been set but Johnson said if all goes well, the pool could be opened in May 2014.
In other tourism business:
The commissioner’s heard a proposed multi-purpose recreational complex, to also be built near the aquatic center and college campus in adjacent to the Allen-Thomason Girls Softball Complex. Former Leitchfield Tourism Commissioner and District Commissioner of Baseball, Jose Soto, presented a sketch of a possible layout for the rec center.
Johnson said the commission liked the proposed idea and is adding the recreational center to their future projects list with an unknown start date. She said the center would accommodate more than just baseball sports but new possibilities like powder-puff football, disc golf, putt-putt golf and kickball.
Soto explained that over the past several years, Theresa Armstrong had raised several thousand dollars to go toward the fields and for her effort, he would like to name the concession stand “Deuces Dugout” in her sons honor. Kelly Stevenson asked Armstrong if that was acceptable versus the entire complex being named by her, which was an agreement she had made with the Leitchfield City Council in 2009 when she began her mission to raise money to build a new baseball complex for Leitchfield. She addressed the Commission saying that as long as new fields were being built for the children she was fine with any name.
As costs are calculated for the project updates will be given to the commission.
With the Leitchfield City Council approving the combination of the Freedom Festival and The Twin Lakes National Fiddling Festival for 3rd weekend in July, the promotion of the events is ready to begin. The new combined event will be held on the Public Square in Leitchfield with the Old Courthouse as the center stage backdrop.
After discussion on the previously requested grant from the G.C. Historical Society to help fund payroll to keep the Jack Thomas House open, Ryan Bratcher made a motion to grant the society $5,000 to be used for payroll.
Rick Embry addressed the commission on behalf of the G.C. Fair Board requesting funding for awards given at the Labor Day Parade. An estimated $2,000 is spent on the parade each year. With the Commission needing to review the information, no action was taken.
Johnson reported that the splash pad and new pavilion project was still on track to open in spring and that concrete will be poured for the splash pads when weather permits.
Johnson explained to Commissioners that she had spoken with Dwight Embry concerning the Alice Theatre project, and he reported that they are currently working out details and he feels confident in the project. Embry agreed to update the commission as the project progresses.
Information was given to commissioners outlining a cellular app that would promote the City of Leitchfield. With more information being needed, no action was taken.
The next meeting will be March 26, 2013, at 8:30 a.m., at Leitchfield City Hall.
