Marion ponders event center in park
Staff writer
Building an event center at the south end of Central Park gained traction at Monday’s city council study session.
Christian Pedersen with the Event Center showed photos of what his committee envisions.
The committee of nine has been talking about the center for a while.
The idea is to build a multi-use venue for community events.
It would eliminate a poorly maintained basketball court and a volleyball court which has been grassed over.
“It will be a nice place to use for weddings or for those wanting an outdoor wedding,” committee member Darin Neufeld said. “There are so many things it can be used for.”
Cost is to be determined, Neufeld said. The committee will pursue grants from government and nonprofit organizations.
“It will not be any cost to the city,” Pederson said.
When completed, it would be turned over to the city.
The center would have a 60 by 80 foot floor, a serving kitchen, and four fixtures in each restroom. It would have a capacity of about 150 people.
A primary concern among council members would be lack of parking at the site.
“People can find a place to park,” council member Zach Collett said, but asked whether the city wanted to deal with parking issues every one to two weeks.
Collett said if the committee could get parking figured out, get the money, turn the keys over to the city, the project would have his support.
The project would be completed in 18 months at the quickest.
“Obviously, you don’t want to start doing something, and then have the city council say no,” Mayor Mike Powers said.
Powers asked whether the center would be large enough for an estate sale.
Pederson said the center would be a wide-open room, so there would no problem using it for these situations.
“I could say this looks good, but I am not the full council,” Powers said. “I could see this being used for Old Settlers Day.”
Council member Kevin Burkholder said people have outside weddings.
Neufeld said the committee would conduct a parking study.
The public will have time to voice opinions on the center.
“It’s really attractive,” Powers said.
The proposal will be Feb. 17 on the council’s agenda.
Council member Amy Smith did not Monday because she was ill.