Community conversations are continuing to develop surrounding a proposed $48.7 million innovative health and fitness center for the Ames area.

More than 30 community members met Tuesday in the Ames Middle School commons to listen to a forum led by two of the projects leaders: Nancy Carroll, executive director of Heartland Senior Services, and Keith Abraham, director of Ames Parks and Recreation.

This is the fourth forum that Carroll and Abraham have facilitated in the Ames community. You can read more about the content of their forum here.

Due to the cost of the facility, it is predicted that the revenues gained from the Healthy Life Center would still leave it with a nearly $500,000 deficit. This was one area where some community members voiced concern. They wanted to know if the city of Ames could support such a facility in the long term.

“I know it can look daunting,” Abraham said. “But it is a conservative estimate. These estimations are based on just under 1,000 people coming to the facility each day.”

Abraham also brought up the Furman Aquatic Center, which also functions on a deficit. However, Abraham said it operates in such a way the city can afford to subsidize it and enjoy the center all the same.

Current plans place the Healthy Life Center on a 10 acre piece of land near Ontario Street and Scholl Road that is currently owned by Iowa State. This plot of land isn’t far from an area which was used for nuclear research and is now the Applied Science Center. Audience members voiced concern about whether or not this could be a contamination issue.

“This plot of land is safe as any other developmental piece of land in Ames,” Abraham said.

Carroll agreed with him and cited a video interview that curious parties could find online to further prove this point.

“We have to deal with the facts,” Carroll said. “[Abraham and I] don’t have the credibility to address this issue; that’s why we went to experts.”

The video consists of an interview with former Iowa State professor Tom Barton and Harris Seidel, former director of water and pollution control in Ames. Barton was once a chemistry professor and director of the Ames Laboratory.

In the seven minute interview, which can be found here, Seidel and Barton both affirm that the area in question is a safe place to build the Healthy Life Center.

“People are afraid of what they don’t know,” said Ames resident Thad Stanton. “I think testing should be done to give people peace of mind, but a big takeaway I got from the presentation is that we should all watch the interview and see for ourselves.”

Overall, many in the audience seemed on board with the Healthy Life Center. People also seemed especially excited to have a year-round warm weather pool in the community.

“My first impression is that this all looks really great,” said Ames resident Ed Gillott. “It’s something that the community really needs.”