Eureka Recreational Center Progresses

The goal is to finish and open the new Eureka Recreation Center by the Fourth of July, said Brian Guccione, project manager with Wright Construction, at Tuesday evening's Eureka Board of Aldermen meeting.

The new center is located on the east side of Missouri Route 109, just south of Interstate 44. The site is on the hill behind Creative Expressions Learning Center and the Legends Corporate Shopping Center.

Guccione told aldermen the gym roof was completed, and that they expected to be able to start on the rest of the building's roof next week. "The roof will take at least two weeks to finish, so perhaps by the end of February," he said.

Tuesday, the crew poured the second-floor slabs, and will proceed to the gym and first-floor slab shortly, said Guccione.

He also said they basically were passed the permitting stage, and mainly into the inspection phase. "The pool piping is being tested by county inspectors, and we will start more structural framing next week, which likely will take a month," he said.

Aldermen asked about any weather delays. Guccione said the crew had used 18 of their allotted 30 no-work weather days so far. "If we have a dry summer like last year, we should be OK."

Alderman Shannon Britt, Ward 3, asked him if there were any budgetary concerns. He said there were some budgetary changes still outstanding that needed the city's approval. City administrator Craig Sabo said the project design team, city staffers and construction crew had been discussing select options, and that he would present an update at the next board of aldermen meeting.

Two local electricians working on the center also were in attendance at Tuesday's meeting.

Guccione said the contract indicates a mid-July completion date; occupancy by the city will depend on final permit approvals.

Specific fees and policies are not yet available for the facility, but the 30,000-square-foot building will contain the following amenities:

• Fitness center with cardio and strength equipment
• Group exercise room
• Locker rooms with saunas
• Full-size gymnasium
• Two meeting rooms capable of being combined into a one larger room
• Full kitchen
• Flexible multipurpose room
• Tot care room
• Parks and Recreation offices
• Outdoor pool with diving board, lap swimming lanes, leisure pool with beachfront entry, waterfall, current channel and slide
• Concession stand
• Wet party room

Aldermen Don Beckerle, Ward 3, said he had received some comments from concerned residents regarding a noticeable amount of dirt being tracked from the construction site onto surrounding roads. Guccione said to address that, they had moved a rumble strip for knocking off dirt from truck tires up closer to the site.