Crossville City Council discusses indoor recreation facility

By Jim Young
Jim Young
November 15, 2004

At last week’s meeting, the Crossville city council discussed the possible future construction of an indoor recreation facility as part of Centennial Park and asked for volunteer members to join a community wide task force for further study.

The indoor recreation facility has been a dream discussed by council members for several years as part of the long-range plans for the Crossville Recreation Department. Such a facility might include indoor basketball courts, a walking track, exercise equipment and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

Council members all agreed that members of the community should be involved in decisions about what should be included in the facility and is asking those interested in serving on a planning task force for the facility to contact city hall to volunteer in the next week.

One of the task force’s jobs will be to develop a survey to determine the public’s interest in use and membership of such facility and what possible programs are wanted.

Those who don’t have time to serve on a task force are also invited to submit their suggestions in writing, or by phone to city hall in order to help with the planning process.


Mayor J. H. Graham III outlined his vision for what he called the Crossville Wellness Center, with the items listed above along with a snack bar, meeting rooms in a 60,000 to 80,000 square foot facility.

Graham also felt a partnership with Cumberland Medical Center could benefit to health of local residents as well as the hospital. In addition, it could potentially allow elementary and high school students to participate in a swim team.

Graham also pointed out that the operating costs of such a program would be high and memberships and admission would be sold to pay for the operational expenses. Different classes of membership may be offered based on residency in the city or county as well as single use tickets for visitors and guests.

Council members have been to Manchester Tennessee to visit their operating recreation facility similar in design to what the city wants to build. The city’s recreation consultant, Kyle Dunn of Hart Freeland Roberts Engineers has worked with the city for several years including work on the recreation park’s master plan as far back as 2000. Dunn helped arrange the visit to Manchester to see the facility his firm also worked on.

Dunn pointed out that the recreation center could also attract people from other counties adding to Crossville’s tourism destination status.


In the 2000 US Census, Manchester in Coffee County between Chattanooga and Nashville had a population of 8,294 while Crossville’s population had just under 700 more residents. Manchester’s facility is 69,000 square feet and cost $7.7 million to build and equip. The facility was awarded the 2003 Best New Facility Award from the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association.

Manchester’s facility has both an indoor Olympic size pool and outdoor water attractions including a lazy river, water slides and 0 depth entry for both older patrons and small children. In addition, there are three basketball courts, an indoor walking track and warm water therapy. Manchester’s Recreation Center also has a 501(c)3 non-profit partner organization that helps raise money for extras.

Crossville Mayor Graham said that preliminary numbers show the operational cost of such a facility would be $600,000 to $800,000 per year and that cost would be funded through memberships sold.


Graham encouraged the public to get involved in the process and added that if Crossville was to consider such a facility that now was the time to look at it since the city currently has no debt in their general fund operations.

City Manager Jack Miller said a full feasibility study could be done in 2005 with engineering services possibly budgeted for the 2006 fiscal year.

Councilman Billy Loggins added that additional land may be needed and should be purchased as soon as possible while it is still available.