Rec Center Price Tag Announced | Video

Evan Kruegel | 9/27/2012

For every taxable dollar spent in Williston, one cent goes to Parks and Recreation. Half of that cent is used to fund the parks department. The other half is used to fund the $72 million Williston Area Recreation Center.

"It’s nice to have the big pool and along with all the other amenities, it`s a phenomenal facility,” said Parks Director Darin Krueger.

The "big pool" Krueger is talking about is a 53-meter Olympic sized swimming pool. The park board was going to add a 36 meter pool, but they decided to step it up a notch.

"That`s something you can`t add later, once we start building we can`t just say, `Well, let`s add 17 meters.`"

That pool will be joined by an indoor water park, indoor tennis courts and a full array of other amenities. Even newcomers to town are excited about the addition.

"I think that this is definitely an important project, and with all the money they`re making in the city, there`s no reason why it shouldn`t go into something like this," said Patrick Rezzo

Park officials expect the center to be completely paid off in 10 to 15 years. When completed, officials say it will immediately become the top recreational facility in the Northern United States.

"I started dreaming about this in 2007, 2008, and I figured by the time I retired in 23 years hopefully we`d have this building built. And things have moved so fast, and the community has supported us so much, that we wanted to get it up as quick as we can so we can use it with all the new kids coming to town. This gives them something to do when it`s cold outside, so it`s a big deal and we`re excited. Now we just need that thing to get built!” said Krueger.

The facility should be completed by March of 2014.

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