Decorah woman wants to revive the discussion about a Community Recreation Center

Sara Weintzen thinks Decorah needs a Community Recreation Center.  The majority of Decorah residents who answered a 2013 survey agree with her.  But the previous discussion fell apart because people liked the idea--but not the price tag.

Weintzen talked with members of the Decorah Parks & Recreation Board recently, offering to be a "cattle prod" to get the discussion started again.

She tells decorahnews.com that a proposal to spend $7 to $15 million on a new recreation center is "not attainable."  So she's looking around for other, less expensive alternatives.  One such possibility, she thinks, is using part of the space at Team Rehab, which will be closing its wellness center at the end of the year.

Weintzen says the question that needs to be asked is, "What can we do NOW?"  She says "So many people want it (a recreation center)."  For instance, parents of young children below the age of 5 need a place to take their kids, especially during the winter.  4th through 8th graders need a place to hang out after school.  Seniors need a place they can congregate that also encourages them to exercise.  And families need a place they can rent for a pizza party or birthday party.

She believes "There are lots of options" for spaces that could work.  She plans to discuss the issue in the near future with other people who believe Decorah needs a Recreation Center.