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May 11, 2005
15-in-5 Community Initiatives were
announced to the public by the Area Chamber of Commerce
and the Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation.
Idea # 9: Build a state-of-the-art community life
center.
August 24, 2005
A group of area volunteers met to form a task force
which would assume ownership of achieving the goal set
forth in Idea #9.
The group, or its respective sub-committees, has been
meeting at least twice a month since then.
March, 2006
Adopted PLAY (Planning Lifelong Activities for You) in
Linn County as our name.
Performed extensive outreach and due diligence by
meeting with various groups and organizations to pull
forward the most needed and most supported elements to
be included in the community life center.
PLAY members visited community/recreational facilities
in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Colorado, and Wisconsin.
Attended conventions and learning sessions in Colorado
and Missouri focused on recreational facility design and
community center management.
After compiling extensive information, we, as a
volunteer group, realized we did not possess the skills
to answer the most significant questions:
1. Where will it be located?
2. Who will it serve?
3. How will it be funded?
4. How will it be sustained?
At this point we decided to pursue engaging a consultant
with experience/expertise with projects of this nature.
With the guidance of Dwight Dohlman, then Facilities
Construction Director with the City of Cedar Rapids, the
committee developed request for proposal (RFP) document.
August 17, 2006
A 20-page RFP was sent to six local and
twelve out-of-state consultant firms.
September 15, 2006
Six responses were received and a
nine-member selection committee from within PLAY invited
four firms to interview using an independent scoring
system developed by the PLAY committee.
January, 2007
Submitted Articles of Incorporation for
PLAY in Linn County to the Iowa Secretary of State.
January 30, 2007
The selection committee interviewed
four consulting firms.
March, 2007
After conducting reference due diligence,
Williams Architects of Carol Stream, Illinois is
selected to perform the Feasibility Study.
April, 2007
The PLAY committee formed a Fund Raising
Sub-committee charged with raising $120,000 for the
Feasibility Study.
May 23, 2007
Exhibited at 15-in-5 Community Initiatives
Expo hosted at the African American Museum.
June, 2007
City of Cedar Rapids earmarks $60,000 from
the Hotel-Motel Tax funds toward the Feasibility Study.
August 16, 2007
AegonUSA commits $10,000 towards the
Feasibility Study.
September, 2007
Linn County Supervisors commit $30,000
from the Economic Development Fund toward the
Feasibility Study.
November 11, 2007
Included in 15-in-5 Mid-Term Report
printed and distributed by the Gazette.
November 28, 2007
City of Cedar Rapids ratifies the
agreement to contract Williams Architects for
‘professional services in developing a Feasibility Study
for a state-of-the-art multi-component community
center/recreation complex’.
November30, 2007
Van Meter Industrial commits $1,000
toward the Feasibility Study.
December, 2007
Members of PLAY Committee, et al, commit
$3,500 toward Feasibility Study.
December 24, 2007
Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation
commits $5,000 toward the Feasibility Study.
January 30-31, 2008
Williams Architects facilitates
several Kick-Off sessions with numerous Stakeholder
Groups (PLAY in Linn County, City of Cedar Rapids, Linn
County, etc.) to gather information for project
initiation. Estimated 9-month Feasibility Study
duration.
October, 2008
Anticipated delivery of Feasibility Study
results.
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