As the Executive Director of the Iowa Games, I travel to all parts of the state of Iowa promoting participation. My Winter Games media tour includes about 50 media outlets (radio, TV, newspaper) in Central and Eastern Iowa, and my Summer Games media tour takes me to approximately 100 media outlets all over the state.

As I visit all these communities, I enjoy checking out their recreational and athletic facilities. We send entry materials to all YMCAs, YWCAs, Parks & Recreation centers and many health and fitness clubs, and I try to visit many of them when I can. What I have observed time and time again is that many communities much smaller than Ames have many more and much nicer recreational facilities available for their citizens. It is very disappointing to compare what they have with what is available in Ames.

The City of Ames has four gymnasiums and one outdoor pool as well as the indoor pool at the high school. Our elementary gymnasiums are not big enough to play or practice in safely. As citizens of Ames, we should consider that unacceptable for a community of our size and stature. The Iowa Games have been held in Ames for the past 17 years, and we are fortunate to be able to utilize ISU facilities as well as the Ames city facilities. Iowa State has wonderful facilities, but the community at large does not have access to these facilities. Without Iowa State’s cooperation, the Games would not be held in Ames, and the Games have an economic impact of around $2.5 million to the Ames community.

I ask you to support the new recreation center which will have three full-size basketball courts, an indoor and outdoor aquatics area and many other amenities that the folks of Ames can enjoy. Being able to build this connected to the new middle school, which will also have 3 new full-size basketball courts, is the right thing to do for the great people of Ames. Together, the six new gymnasiums will allow configurations for 12 regulation volleyball courts, six full-sized basketball courts and indoor soccer fields. This will allow tournaments to be held in our community, which will have further economic impact to restaurants and businesses in our community.

Jim Hallihan

Ames