City's Property Committee endorses the concept of a Health and Wellness Center

Decorah Parks and Recreation Director Rick Edwards admits that Decorah residents have talked about the need for a community Health and Wellness Center "probably for the last 20 years."

That talk is heating up again, now that the Wapsie Produce building has been torn down and the property has been put up for sale.  Edwards noted Monday night that there are "limited locations here in the valley (for a Center.)"  That's why the Decorah Park-Rec Board and other community volunteers have resurrected the talk of the need for a community center.

Edwards says such a center, if built on the Wapsie Produce property, would be about 25,000 square feet.  That would be big enough for three basketball gyms and several other rooms, but not too big that the price tag got too high.

Edwards says the community center could be financed through a bond issue.  Decorah voters haven't been asked to support a city bond issue since the swimming pool bond issue in the 1990s, but Edwards thinks the community has recognized the need for such a facility.

Park-Rec Board member Cindy Albers predicted, "Our city is ready for something like this."  She said while other possible sites should be considered, the Wapsie Produce property was "a wonderful opportunity because of its location."