By Brian L. Gray

The Mandan Park Board looked into its numbers on Monday, and came to the conclusion that a Sprung structure will not be financially possible at this time.

The board met during a special meeting to discuss the potential for the proposed facility, and its fiscal impact on the district, by looking at a five-to-10-year financial forecast.

The structure, which would cost the district anywhere from $2.5 to 3 million, was planned to be the future site for the district’s recreational facility when it moves out of the Community Center in July 2010.

The Sprung structure was going to be built inside the Raging Rivers water park in the Lakewood area, which was initially planned to be 25,000 square feet in size.

Parks Director Cole Higlin said the land required for this proposed facility would not have to be purchased, because it is already owned by the park district. For the original 25,000 structure to be built, more land would have to be purchased to make that possible, which would cost the district $360,000.

Due to a year-end balance that has diminished from previous years, coupled with lack of sufficient support from the Mandan Vision Growth Fund Committee, the district decided to shelf the plan for the time being.

“Financially, we can do it. But it would have to turn a profit,” Higlin said.

Higlin said annual costs for the Sprung recreational center would cost about $342,000. And in the wake of paying off the $2.25 million debt from the purchase of Raging Rivers, the district’s current balance of $775,000 would dwindle to $100,000 in the next five years, leaving little wiggle room for other projects or future maintenance requirements.

Higlin said with the recent purchase of the Raging Rivers, there were too many variables at this time to undertake a project of this. “So the park board decided that we will put it on the backburner until 2014,” he said.

Despite the numbers not adding up for a Sprung facility, the board will continue to move forward on having All Fitterer Architects draw up a rendering for a 7,000 to 10,000 square foot fitness center on the east end of Raging Rivers.

The Sprung structure idea will return in five years, when the district is more certain of its financial state. In the meantime, the 7,000 square foot fitness center bidding could begin in the spring, and construction would be possible for a fall 2010 start. Higlin said Fitterer Architects should have a design plan by January.

In looking at plans for a fitness center, the Mandan Park Board on Nov. 9 approved unanimously to offer $2,500 to All Fitterer Architects to help create a rendering of the potential Sprung structure. That money will now be used for designing the fitness center.

Since talks began on the possibility of constructing a Sprung facility, the board has employed the assistance of Fitterer Architects for design help, which had all been pro bono work before the payment was agreed upon Nov. 9.

During the next park board meeting on Monday, Dec. 14, the meeting will be open to any comments from the public on their thoughts on moving forward with the fitness center near Raging Rivers.

In addition to transferring all its items during the district’s move in July, the board also discussed ideas of where its electronic sign, which currently sits on the corner of Sunset Drive next to the Community Center, should go when the move takes place. A definite answer to that question is still being worked out.