The City of Sioux Center is working with the Sioux Center Community School District on a site plan near the new school that could include much-needed playing fields and green space for the community.
With the district in final design stage for the planned new high school building in northeast Sioux Center, the city is proposing working in tandem with them, creating a large multipurpose green space north of the school that could be used for a variety of youth and adult recreation programs.
Councilman Jamie Van Ravenswaay, chairman of the Recreation and Arts Council, said the location is favorable because it is near some of the city’s existing recreation fields.
“The numbers in our rec programs and our soccer programs are blooming,” he added. “We’re basically out of space.”
The city is proposing to help with landscaping, seeding, lighting, parking lot and access, storm sewer improvements, erosion control, and sidewalk development for this area. The city is also proposing to assist the school in site development by relocating the gas main and sewer force main on the property, a project for which the city can be reimbursed with TIF funds.
Sioux Center Parks Director Lee Van Meeteren shared that recreation field use and demand continues to increase in the community.
“The amount of extra play on all surfaces has seen a major increase due to more practices and games for all ages,” he said. “We have seen a major increase in our soccer programs in Sioux Center and need to consider building additional fields."