The Sioux Center City Council approved exploring master planning to help guide the long-term layout for part of Open Space park, including the placement of a possible new indoor turf facility.
Placing the indoor turf facility in Open Space Park is being considered because of its proximity to the new Sioux Center High School, Dordt University’s campus, the All Seasons Center, and other recreation facilities.
The mayor and city staff have been in conversation with the board for Heritage Village, which uses a portion of Open Space Park, and with the Joint Use Committee, which will collaborate on the proposed turf facility, to discuss master planning. The Joint Use Committee includes representatives from the City, local schools, and Dordt University, currently structured through a 28E intergovernmental agreement.
“The possibility of an indoor turf facility, the potential locations for it, and how those locations might impact other parts of Open Space Park are all related. Getting some professional help in exploring the options and weighing the alternatives seems like a wise investment in our future,” said Mayor David Krahling.
“We need to have professional guidance and input from the people who are involved with Heritage Village and the people interested in the indoor turf facility to help and inform you as you discern the will of the community,” he told the council.
City Manager Scott Wynja recommended using the services of Matt Carlile of Confluence, a planning and design firm, to conduct the master planning for Open Space Park, exploring options for the turf facility location. The council approved this recommendation.
“Confluence did some site planning with the new high school project and they have done some work with the Heritage Village board, so he’s very familiar with the Heritage Village and what their operations are, and he has also done other work in our community with the commercial site planning, so he’s very familiar with our community,” Wynja said, adding. “We’re looking at the most stewardly way for this body to move forward.”