Salvation Army to ‘wow’ public with center plans

May 20, 2008

By Kelly Wilson

The vision for the Quincy Salvation Army's Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center is becoming clearer as officials unveil plans tonight for the multi-million-dollar facility.

"We want the center to be a beacon of hope and a place of excellence for children and families," said Patty Douglas, Kroc project facilitator. "As people will see with the design of the building, we really are working toward that excellence."

The public will get a virtual tour of the future Kroc Center -- which will be built on a 3.5-acre site bordered by Broadway, Vermont, Fourth and Fifth streets -- during a community meeting tonight in the Salvation Army gym, 732 Hampshire.Photos of the proposed center, courtesy of Architechnics, can be seen by going to www.whig.com/Kroc_Center."It's going to be very welcoming, very open," said Maj. Alan Wurtz, who along with his wife, Maj. Carol Wurtz, are the center's administrators. "A lot of natural light will be in the facility. It's going to have the 'wow' factor, but you're just going to enjoy being there."

Wurtz emphasizes that the facility will be much more than a building that houses community programs.

"It's going to be about transforming lives ... for years to come," he said.

The center is designed to serve as a magnet that will attract diverse populations. It also is designed to be financially self-sustaining and to further the Christ-focused mission of the Salvation Army.

"No matter a person's race or status, we can all be under one umbrella, enhancing quality of life in some way in the Kroc Center," Wurtz said.

Programs will fall into five categories: evangelism and discipleship, family enrichment, physical fitness and recreation, performing and fine arts, and education and academic achievement.

The heart of the 88,125-square foot center will be a 500-seat worship center that also will be used for Christian concerts, speakers, theatrical productions and other community events.

A major attraction will be an aquatics center with features such as a water slide that's at least 25-foot tall, a lazy river, water vortex, zero entry wading area, lap lanes and a family spa. A waterfall will cascade from the top level down to the aquatics center.

"It's unlike anything we have in town," Douglas said.

A big screen in the aquatics area will be used to host movie nights and other events.

"Our studies concluded this is something the community wanted," Wurtz said of the aquatics center. "We initially looked at (an ice rink) and it definitely would have been unique. But we were in that dream stage ... until we did our homework and our research."

The Salvation Army hired consultant Jeff King of Ballard-King of Highlands Ranch, Colo., to conduct a recreational feasibility study. He looked at the demographics, as well as cost and sustainability issues.

"Reality set in, there's just no way we were going to be able to sustain that, and it would take up a larger piece of land than we expected," Douglas said.

Wurtz said the estimated cost to build an ice rink at the quality that Joan Kroc's estate required would cost about $8.4 million. Plus, it would take up to $7,000 a day to maintain.

"We were told it would never be self-sustaining," Douglas said. "We didn't feel we could do that."

Wurtz said an aquatics center of the magnitude being planned for the Kroc Center would bring a broader base of people into the center than an ice rink would.

Other recreational features will include a rock climbing/bouldering wall, a fitness center, walking track, 500-seat gymnasium with regulation basketball court and retractable batting cages, a game room, and a child watch area with an accessible outdoor play area.

The Kroc Center also will include a large community room, two party rooms, a cafe/snack bar, an arts and crafts room, various classroom space and a commercial/teaching kitchen.

A variety of programs and services for children and adults from all walks of life will be offered -- from tutoring, mentoring, career and life skills classes to Bible study and character-building activities to sports leagues and health and fitness activities to drama, theater arts and music classes.

Douglas emphasizes that the Kroc Center will not duplicate community services but improve services and fill gaps through collaborative efforts with area agencies and institutions. Membership fees would be charged for certain services, with a sliding scale used, but scholarships would be available to ensure access to everyone.

"We want it to be a place where there is opportunity for everyone," Douglas said.