IF YOU BUILD IT...

A PCM alumnus is looking to bring a new amenity to be used by both communities. Local business owner and Monroe resident Kyle Edwards has proposed a PCM Sports and Rec Fieldhouse to be located on property at the PCM High School.

“Knowing that I connected to so many different parts of the community, not just one group here or there, I felt like I was one of the best people in the community to do it,” Edwards said. “My personal passion for this started with how can we unite our communities and also take care of the youth sports part of it.”

The vision for the fieldhouse is to acquire land from the school district through a 99-year lease or purchase for appraised value with the goal to build a 30,000-square-foot facility. The project would be east facing and located near the current bus barn.

“This is an ideal spot so it does not impede on any future expansion of school facilities,” Edwards said. “As part of this phase, we would like to unite the school district as well as both cities in order to help fund the project.”

To begin, a 28E agreement between both cities and the school district would be created for a shared use plan. A board would be created potentially consisting of a member from each contributing entity and four additional elected members.

Edwards’ plan includes using PCM Sports & Rec to be a parent company in order to help provide insurance coverage, relieving the school district of the responsibility. He would also look to work with both cities to see if there would be interest in the newly created board taking over management of the current rec parks.

“A huge advantage would be the ability to share resources ... (and) continue to bond our communities together and have consistency in a facility between both communities,” Edwards said.

The fieldhouse would feature two 50 feet by 84 feet courts with lines to play basketball, volleyball and pickleball. There would be a curtain available to separate the two courts, if needed.

The other side would feature a 100 feet by 120 feet field turf space lined for football. In the middle will be restrooms, locker rooms and a concession stand.

A walking path is currently planned for the perimeter of the building. Edwards said there is a possibility it could be an elevated path but costs will have to be assessed.

Edwards’ initial estimated budget for the project is $4.5 million. That figure includes all amenities for the building including sports equipment, utilities and daily business needs.

To fund the project, Edwards is looking for $250,000 per year from the school district until a potential loan is paid off, and $100,000 from both the City of Monroe and City of Prairie City for up to five years, or $500,000. He also has a goal of private donations totaling $1 million to $1.5 million.

“As of May 19, I have received verbal commitments from 39 donors,” Edwards said “The total of all of those donors is currently at $450,000. I have not approached any large corporations or applied for any grants.”

Edwards has a vision of the top-four donors having recognition on the building along with the PCM logo. Plans for the project are preliminary and final decisions will come at a later date.

He hopes to get this project moving quickly, having presented the idea to both city council and the school board in the past two weeks. If funding is secured and construction goes smoothly, it could potentially be ready by next summer.

“I want to provide an opportunity for the kids to be able to have a facility and be proud of it,” Edwards said.