Plan commission approves sports complex site

Samantha Newburn

Effingham’s sports complex is one step closer to becoming a possibility for the city. Effingham’s planning commission approved the site plan Tuesday.

Building Official Bruce Devall gave a review of the plan, saying the property is not subject to any variances. Four-foot berms will surround most of the property, with trees and shrubs set inside the berms. City Engineer Steve Miller said most of the trees surrounding the property will be pine trees, with most of them being on the south side of the property. The topsoil used for the berms will come from the dirt excavated from constructing the building and parking lot.

Miller said he has spoken with neighboring residents of the property, and most of them were satisfied with the location of the building on the southeast corner of the property. The amount of space is 340 feet from the building to the site’s property line.

Miller said the building will employ sodium lighting, which is the same lighting used on Maple Street. The lights are more of dim yellow instead of a bright white. Most of the lights will be in the parking lot surrounding the building, not throughout the fields and grass areas.

Greg Grunloh and Rusty Walker from Holabird and Root originally presented the design plans for the sports complex at the Nov. 17 city council meeting. The company had plans to equip the 50,000-square-foot building with two floors. The first floor will include three competitive size basketball courts, an eight-lane swimming pool, offices and locker rooms. The second will have a fitness center, a spectator area for the swimming pool, and an elevated three-lane track. However, if costs rise above the construction budget, the track can be eliminated from the design.

The building can be broken down in two sections. The first section will include the pool room, which will take up half of the first floor and most of the second floor, where spectator seating will be provided.

The second part will include the three basketball courts on the first floor, while the elevated track will be on the second floor. Runners will be able to look down over a 42-inch rail and see the games on the courts. The fitness center will set on the second floor at the center and on the other side of the spectator seating.

The site plan also includes playground areas surrounding the three soccer fields outside and circular parking around the building. Grunloh said the circular parking will help allow people to use the sidewalk outside to walk or jog.

Surrounding the entire lot will be trees and other shrubbery to help keep out the noise and pollution from the nearby interstate. The playing fields and large green space also will act as a buffer between the building and interstate.

The building will have a “bump-out,” or a piece on the second floor that will act as an overhang at the front entrance, but will also be used as part of the fitness center. Treadmills or stationary bikes will be set in the bump-out so those exercising can enjoy the outside view.

Walker said very little glass was used on the building to help keep cost down, as well as to keep out natural light that creates glare. Glare was a big concern for swimmers and those who would use the basketball courts. The small amount of glass also will allow for less air conditioning or heating costs for the building.

Glass will be used on the second floor at the running track so walkers and joggers can see outside, as well as letting outside viewers to see activity going on in the building. Glass also will be used on the north side of the pool room.

Those using the track can look down and see the games happening on the basketball courts, which also can be used for volleyball. The three courts can be separated and can even be used as batting cages.

All materials for the building consist of concrete, metal and glass. Walker said the design scheme was kept to a minimum to only include the necessities for a sports complex.

“We wanted to get as much activity into the building as possible, but keep it as cheap as possible,” he said.

An elevator will be installed at the front entrance, and the pool and track will be handicap accessible.

Walker said the site and building uses “passive supervision.” The open concept is designed to allow for sports complex staff, as well as parents, to know where someone is at all times.

The original design was sent back to be revamped in a scaled down version when the original estimate for building the facility came in millions of dollars over what the council expected to spend.

According to the contract with the city, the design work and construction documents had to be completed for competitive bidding by November. This will be the second time bids have been accepted for the sports complex.

Grunloh said this design was driven by an effort to keep the construction costs under $10 million, although the estimated cost will not be definite until after a budget consultant reviews the design.

All bids submitted in June 2008 were rejected when the lowest bid was $16.8 million — much higher than the $10 million limit the city had set as a goal.

Samantha Newburn may be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or samantha.newburn@effinghamdailynews.com.

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