The Sioux Center City Council indicated interest in considering an indoor turf facility after reviewing the potential community impact and benefits of this amenity.
At this week’s city council meeting, members of Sioux Center’s Joint Use Committee, which represents the City, local schools, and Dordt University, shared research and a proposal to look further into an indoor turf dome facility for Sioux Center.
An indoor turf facility could offer Sioux Center many benefits including year-round use, an amenity and attraction to the community, the ability to host a variety of activities, providing needed additional space for existing programs and activities, enhancing family activities, and serving all residents, including local and area schools, colleges and universities.
“This type of facility has the potential to promote community growth by adding to the high quality of life Sioux Center offers,” said City Manager Scott Wynja. “As our community continues to grow, we see this as not only a benefit to our citizens, but a regional attraction to bring people to the community, from visitors to employers.”
Other joint use members, including Dordt University President Erik Hoekstra, Dordt Director of Athletics Ross Douma, Dordt Chief Administrative Officer Howard Wilson, and Sioux Center School District Superintendent Gary McEldowney, voiced support for considering an indoor turf facility.
“If we look back on our history of joint use facilities, we see how having an All Seasons Center has enabled youth hockey and swimming activities to be positive developmental activities for our residents and a positive economic driver of our city. I believe that the same will be true for this facility – if we build it, they will come,” Hoekstra said. “A community asset like this will have a very high utilization and a positive return for us in terms of quality of life.”
Wynja reported that an indoor turf facility could be used for an array of activities including youth and adult soccer, recreational programs/activities, softball games and practice, baseball practice, football practice, community wellness programs, physical therapy, strength and agility programs, and rentals.
“The proposed facility would be a draw for the community to use, but also a huge draw for a variety of activities and events,” Wynja said. “In turn these would have an economic benefit to our various retailers, restaurants, hotels, and other service industries. It would continue to make Sioux Center a destination for people of all ages.”
Image: The Joint Use committee shared concepts of what indoor turf facilities can offer, including this interior shot of the Maverick All-Sports Dome in Minnesota.