Hard to beat Mills Park for rec center site

Carson City residents have waited eight years for a workable plan to build a true recreation center with Quality of Life funding, so we doubt they'll mind waiting a bit longer to make sure they get a good one.

Early plans had called for a new gym in conjunction with construction of a new Boys & Girls Club, but those plans fell through. Now the city has greatly expanded the scope of the project - and the price tag.

The money from the sales-tax initiative approved in 1996 will go only so far, and the city has gradually been working its way toward completion of many of the projects promised to voters - improvements to the swimming pools, Governors Field, the Edmonds Sports Complex.

In the meantime, in addition to the idea of locating with or near the Boys & Girls Club, serious consideration was given to transforming the Pony Express Pavilion into a recreation center. Since then, they've taken a look at 15 sites and created a conceptual plan with the idea of spending more than $6 million, a sizable investment for the community.

Parks commissioners last week sent the plan back to the drawing board, primarily because some didn't like the idea of building in Mills Park. We agree Mills Park is a jewel of open space in the center of town, but that's why the site is so attractive.

The central location, connected to the Aquatic Center and near other gathering points such as the Community Center, high school and library, should be a prime consideration. Building too far north, south or east would reduce the usefulness of a rec center, especially for kids who would walk or bike there.

Dave Ruf's idea of using the old Kmart building is an appealing one, but any plan that requires the city to buy land is going to cut seriously into the budget for the building itself.

Other potential sites, such as Centennial Park and near Eagle Valley Middle School, lack many of the advantages of Mills Park.

There are issues to overcome, especially parking, but it's going to be tough to beat Mills Park as the top choice.