The Des Moines north side rec center has a name — and is $2.5 million away from its goal

Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register
·3 min read

A new community center to replace the aging John R. Grubb Community YMCA on Des Moines' north side has a name.

The Des Moines City Council on Monday voted to accept a combined $3.6 million dollars from six community donors. The council also voted to name the building the Reichardt Community Recreation Center after the Reichardt family, who donated $1.2 million to the project, according to a release from the city of Des Moines.

Des Moines Parks and Recreation Director Ben Page Page said the Reichardts are longtime Des Moines residents who have an interest in serving the community. John Douglas Reichardt was the former CEO of Holmes Murphy, a Waukee-based insurance company. His son Randy Reichardt has served on the Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation.

A conceptual view of the west entrance of the Reichardt Community Recreation Center.
A conceptual view of the west entrance of the Reichardt Community Recreation Center.

“This project is near and dear to all of our hearts,” Page said in a statement. “This is a neighborhood that deserves a new facility and the investment from these donors shows that our community is stepping up and helping turn it into a reality."

Other naming rights approved Monday include:

  • The Patty and Jim Cownie Family Courts and Gymnasium, for the couple's $1 million contribution.

  • The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines Community Room, for the organization's $750,000 donation, $500,000 of which comes from its Catalyst Circle Grant.

  • And The Ruan Foundation Track, for the foundation's $500,000 contribution to the walking track.

More:Des Moines plans to demolish Grubb YMCA for new rec center, but needs to raise $9 million

The community center was developed over the course of six public meetings and more than 200 community conversations, where one central theme emerged: Des Moines' north side residents want access to the same state-of-the-art community facilities as their suburban peers. The city has community centers on the south and east sides and the new complex, which eventually will replace the Grubb YMCA at 1611 11th St., is meant to fill gaps on the north and central parts of Des Moines.

The $18 million, 40,000-square-foot recreation center will house the first city-owned indoor pool, as well as a gymnasium, fitness space, community room and a track. Its full scope will be determined by the amount of money raised for the project.

An aerial view of the new north side recreation center, which would be located on the corner of Ninth Street and College Avenue.
An aerial view of the new north side recreation center, which would be located on the corner of Ninth Street and College Avenue.

"This is the most engaged and passionate public process we've ever had, and it's also the most collaborative," Page told the Des Moines Register. "I think today's news shows we're definitely going to get to the facility that everybody wants."

The rec center is expected to open late in 2025 or early in 2026.

Des Moines has committed to pay $12 million toward the project, $9.5 million of which will come from its allocation of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.

More:Basic income to water: How Des Moines metro cities will spend $137 million in COVID relief

Other donations approved Monday were $100,000 from the W.T. and Edna M Dahl Trust and $20,000 from the Lohse Family Foundation.

The city needs to raise $2.5 million more to meet its fundraising goal, and also is accepting more money for a future phase of the project. Those interested in donating can visit the project donation website through the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation.

Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines names rec center that's replacing north side Grubb YMCA