City of Cedar Rapids and College Community School District Announce Prairie Summit YMCA Collaboration

The Cedar Rapids City Council approved a development agreement establishing a collaboration with the College Community School District on the Prairie Summit YMCA project at the August 27, 2024 council meeting.

The Prairie Summit YMCA is a $43 million initiative approved by voters in the College Community School District in 2023. The facility will include a competition-size swimming pool with diving capabilities, recreational pool with a splash pad, indoor walking and running track, turf field, basketball and multipurpose courts, and a cardio and weightlifting area among its offerings. Construction is anticipated to begin this fall, with the facility expected to open in early 2026.

The City of Cedar Rapids' contribution focuses on needed public infrastructure support and the indoor walking track component. The commitment brings an estimated value of $2.5-3 million for:

• Construction of a roundabout on 76th Street SW,
• Extension of the sewer system to the new facility, and
• Naming rights for the "City of Cedar Rapids Walking Track."

"This partnership directly addresses needs identified through several City engagement and community-planning efforts, indicating strong support for an indoor walking track and facilities like the Prairie Summit YMCA," said City Manager Jeff Pomeranz. "The City identified an opportunity to enhance the scope of the walking track to ensure it adequately meets these identified needs, creating one of the largest such amenities in the region."

"This project closes a recreation-facility coverage gap on our west side, ensuring broader access to quality services in a rapidly developing part of the city," said Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell. "The College Community School District came forward with a proposal to maximize the impact of the City's partnership with minimal taxpayer dollars relative to the overall cost, meaning the Cedar Rapids taxpayer gets exceptional value from the project. This is the perfect example of the kind of public-private collaboration our community deserves, enhancing quality of life for our residents."

"I want to thank the City Council for their support of this project. The facility was envisioned with two purposes in mind - to benefit our students and to serve the communities we are a part of, including more than 7,000 homes within the Cedar Rapids city limits," said Dr. Doug Wheeler, superintendent of the College Community School District. "The City's partnership allows us to offer more experiences within the space and provide the best possible amenities to support both current residents in the area and expected residential and commercial growth."

The Prairie Summit YMCA will offer activities for non-members, including league sports and swimming lessons, as well as income-based membership assistance. As part of the collaboration, the City's Parks & Recreation Department will explore opportunities to provide collaborative, joint youth programming, further maximizing resources and optimizing the use of available space to meet community needs.