I just drove by where I assume the recplex is supposed to be located. I noticed that there are about 25 trees with their trunks spraypainted red. I assume this is not boring graffiti but rather markers for which are getting cut down (A bit sad, but necessary I guess). Also, there is a sign that says that portion of the park and road are closed as of Feb. 11th (although I drove on the road that was "closed".).



I can't wait for this to happen, although I don't have much confidence until I see walls going up and a pool being dug.

In a letter to the editor in the RFT this week, someone brought up a good point. Why is the city, with tax payer's dollars, essentially just building a new YMCA in a public park. If the Y is running it, charging Y rates AND closing down their historic locale further east on Loughborough, why are we paying for it? The Y isn't all that cheap either, so will us residents get a discount when using it considering our tax dollars paid to build it? What will they do with the old location.



I am all for a new community center in my neighborhood but I have my concerns.

I also believe the county is building a new community center in neighboring Lemay as part of the new casino agreement. To bad politics prevented a combination of the two so money could have been saved and a overall better facility built.

The images of the new casino buildup look like more playing fields rather than a "recplex" but I could be wrong.



I also have some questions regarding the YMCA running a tax payer funded facility. I understand that they would have more experience in this area, however, it would be nice to figure out another solution.

This whole YMCA deal is fishy. I hope somebody out there is keeping an eye on this.

As part of the agreement Pinnacle signed, they are giving 4 million dollars to build a new community rec/plex in Lemay. I believe this was done to pacify the nuns at the Notre Dame Motherhouse.

I am wondering if any other company was able to make a bid on this other than the Y or was this a back room deal?

This is a link to the architects who designed the recplex. It looks much bigger than I expected, but then again, the designs always do.



http://www.kai-db.com/images/portfolio/ ... Center.htm

Those pools are impressive

That's an awfully big building to plop down in Carondelet Park. Any chance someone has some kind of overlay map that shows just how this will fit in the park?

I believe they will be building this in the southeast corner where the recycling and compost piles are currently located at.

The center is supposed to sit on the top of the hill by the parking lot of the softball fields. You should be able to see it from Highway 55. The latest is that they are now 2 million dollars short, which means they either have to mysteriously find the money somewhere or cut something out of the plans. The outdoor pool may be what is cut out. Hopefully that is not the case.

I'm not challenging your sources, but I was wondering where you heard "the latest"? Is this the same information that was in the Post at the beginning of January? If it is, they mentioned in that article that some of the "decorative touches" would be different, such as less expensive tile.



Those pictures where forwarded to me from the construction company (KCI), but I don't know if that still means that is what the final product will look like or if they just want me to stop e-mailing them. I'm guessing the later of the two.

Thomas Jefferson wrote:The center is supposed to sit on the top of the hill by the parking lot of the softball fields. You should be able to see it from Highway 55. The latest is that they are now 2 million dollars short, which means they either have to mysteriously find the money somewhere or cut something out of the plans. The outdoor pool may be what is cut out. Hopefully that is not the case.

I heard basically the same thing from Fred Wessels at the last Holly Hills neighborhood meeting. I was under the impression that they would try to cut corners on finishes as opposed to eliminating the outdoor pool. I look forward to this new facility, but I will be sad to see the YMCA in Cardondelet suffer or close altogether.

The YMCA's not suffering...They got the City to build a brand new building for them!

Framer wrote:The YMCA's not suffering...They got the City to build a brand new building for them!

So is it a new Y or a neighborhood center similar to Richmond Heights/Clayton/Des Peres?



Is it even possible for the Y to build in a public park? I don't see how?



That old school Y on Loughborough is the bees knees.



Also, why do they always chince on the lap lanes?

Feasting Fox. at Meramec and Grand. It's quite a ways north of Carondelet Park.

brickandmortar wrote:Feasting Fox. at Meramec and Grand. It's quite a ways north of Carondelet Park.

Yes! How is that place?

Perhaps a Feasting Fox thread is needed?

ttricamo wrote:So is it a new Y or a neighborhood center similar to Richmond Heights/Clayton/Des Peres? Is it even possible for the Y to build in a public park? I don't see how?

If I understand correctly, the City is building a neighborhood rec center. They are contracting with the Y to run the place. Members of the Y will have access to the center, but city residents may have to pay the Y to use the place.



I'm sure someone else knows more about the arrangement than I do. I'm very suspicious.

^In that case, would South City already have a "rec center" on Sublette?

I drove by the site for the recplex and they have started tearing out the market trees and putting up a fence to keep out gawkers like me. I'm looking forward to the recplex, but its sad to see these big trees going.

malone wrote:I drove by the site for the recplex and they have started tearing out the market trees and putting up a fence to keep out gawkers like me. I'm looking forward to the recplex, but its sad to see these big trees going.

The good news is, hundreds of trees are being planted in Carondelet park as part of the master plan. Take a stroll along Loughborough, Leona and Holly Hills. There are trees being planted all over the park.