By 1808Delaware
A proposed community center for eastern Delaware County is coming into sharper focus, with planners considering a facility of at least 90,000 square feet and enough land to accommodate future expansion. The project is also getting a longer timetable.
Bernie Kooi, chair of the Eastern Delaware County Joint Recreation District, told Sunbury City Council on Wednesday that the district is now working toward a possible May 2027 ballot issue. Project leaders had previously considered placing a funding question before voters this November.
“We’re still sprinting, and it feels like a marathon of sprinting,” Kooi said.
The additional time will allow the district to refine the building plan, identify a preferred site, determine construction and operating costs, and return to residents for another round of public discussion.
From Public Input to a Building Plan
The district began its current planning process last September, hiring Pizzuti Solutions to help determine what residents wanted from a regional recreation facility. Public workshops followed in Berkshire Township and Sunbury, along with community surveys. Kooi said the first survey received 1,430 responses, providing feedback on both the amenities residents wanted and those they considered less important.
That work produced an early project cost range of $45 million to $75 million. The figure remains preliminary and could change as the building program, location and potential partnerships are settled.
MSA Design has since developed a concept for a 90,000-square-foot center. District meeting records show that the preliminary program includes an elevated walking and running track, fitness areas, programming rooms, aquatic facilities, gymnasium space, offices and supporting areas. A medical or health care partner could add another 15,000 to 20,000 square feet, bringing the complete facility to between 105,000 and 110,000 square feet.
Kooi emphasized that the concept remains just that. The district is using it to test costs, property requirements and possible layouts before settling on a final recommendation.
Finding Room to Grow
The size of the property may prove nearly as important as the size of the building. Consultants initially suggested that a site of eight to 12 acres could accommodate the project. District leaders concluded that such a parcel could leave the center constrained by parking, stormwater requirements and the building itself, with little room for outdoor recreation or later additions.
The district therefore began evaluating properties with at least 15 usable acres and is now considering even larger parcels. No preferred location has been announced. Officials said revealing potential properties too early could weaken the district’s position in land negotiations.
A previous market study identified the southern portion of the Sunbury area and the corridor extending toward Interstate 71 as having strong potential. Availability of utilities, road access, trail connections, floodplain conditions and room for outdoor fields will all be considered. The final location is expected to be identified before any funding proposal reaches voters.
The Ballot Question Takes Shape
The district is working with a financial adviser to develop projections for building and operating the center. No specific tax request or other funding formula has been announced. The May 2027 election is a planning target rather than a firm commitment. Sunbury City Manager Daryl Hennessy said the district intends to be ready by then, while leaving open the possibility of waiting if officials decide another election would offer a better opportunity.
Election expenses will also become part of the district’s 2027 budget. Hennessy said the Delaware County Board of Elections is preparing an estimate, but the cost could reach approximately $125,000 if the recreation proposal were the only issue on the ballot. That amount could fall if the expense is shared with other jurisdictions or issues. Before making a final ballot decision, the district plans to return to the three communities that created it: Sunbury, Berkshire Township and Galena.
Another Community Conversation Ahead
The district has not conducted additional public meetings since its initial workshops, a pause Kooi described as intentional. Project leaders first want clearer answers about the facility, property and cost so residents can respond to a more defined proposal. Another round of community engagement will follow once those pieces are in place.
For now, the community center exists somewhere between a broad public vision and a finished plan. Its possible size is becoming clearer, its search area is narrowing and its timetable now extends into 2027. The next phase will answer the questions that ultimately matter most to voters: what will be built, where it will go and what it will cost.
