20 years in the making, Nevada nears $7.7M fundraising goal toward community field house

Danielle Gehr, Ames Tribune
·2 min read
The Nevada Field House, a project envisioned in the late '90s, could go to bid in January if the city can secure the rest of the $7.7 million funding goal.
The Nevada Field House, a project envisioned in the late '90s, could go to bid in January if the city can secure the rest of the $7.7 million funding goal.

Funding is nearly secured for the $7.7 million Nevada Field House, a project over 20 years in the making.

The 40,000-square-foot field house will offer a new space for recreation, particularly useful as temperatures drop. The project was identified while creating the Vision 2020 Plan in the late '90s to fill the need for indoor recreation space, Nevada Mayor Brett Barker said.

“We know it's really important for both medical, mental and physical health for people to be active and mobile,” Barker said. “Obviously, Iowa weather doesn't always allow for that.”

The space will have three basketball courts, one of which can be transformed into an extension of the indoor turf area, a play area for children, an elevated track and a multipurpose room. The building will also house the city's Parks and Recreation Department.

"It's something that we identified many years ago," Nevada Parks and Recreation Director Tim Hansen said. "It just got put on the back burner because other priorities came up. But now it's come to the forefront."

Related: Boone health center conversation gets heated, reminiscent of Ames Healthy Life Center

The Nevada Field House, a project envisioned in the late '90s, could go to bid in January if the city can secure the rest of the $7.7 million funding goal.
The Nevada Field House, a project envisioned in the late '90s, could go to bid in January if the city can secure the rest of the $7.7 million funding goal.

Hansen said he envisions local schools getting use out of the space, as well as more opportunities for adult programming. He said the goal is not to compete with already-existing fitness facilities but to create partnership opportunities.

The city got closer to its funding goal this month after receiving a $424,000 Community Attraction and Tourism grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

To secure the remaining funding, Nevada is looking for 200 families to pledge $200 a year for the next five years. The city will also hold a call-a-thon on Jan. 5, with the hope that the city council will be able to start the bidding process later that month.

The Nevada Field House, a project envisioned in the late '90s, could go to bid in January if the city can secure the rest of the $7.7 million funding goal.
The Nevada Field House, a project envisioned in the late '90s, could go to bid in January if the city can secure the rest of the $7.7 million funding goal.

"I think it will be an economic development tool, as well," Hansen said. "As we try and bring families and business to Nevada ... they look at, 'Why would I want to come to Nevada?' — and this another reason why."

Questions can be directed to Nevada Parks & Recreation at 515-382-4352 or thansen@cityofnevadaiowa.org. Find more information on the project here.

Danielle Gehr is a politics and government reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached by email at dgehr@gannett.com, phone at (515) 663-6925 or on Twitter at @Dani_Gehr.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Nevada, Iowa nears $7.7M fundraising goal toward community field house