City Secures Property for the New Regional Wellness Center

The Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools has agreed to sell an approximately 10-acre site, located between the Parklands and Jasper High School, to the City of Jasper to be used for the new Regional Wellness Center. The City of Jasper and Tri-County YMCA are partnering on the facility to significantly increase the number of children, families, adults, and seniors who will have access to much-needed indoor recreation, wellness and aquatic facilities and programs. 

The City sold this property to the Greater Jasper School Corporation in 2013 in conjunction with the development of the 75-acre Parklands, to serve as a possible site for future Greater Jasper growth opportunities. Since that time, the GJCS has determined that its needs are better served by other properties. 

“We could not be more excited than to have this wonderful property serve as the location for the new Regional Wellness Center,” said Dr. Tracy Lorey. “To be located adjacent to the Parklands and easily accessible for our Jasper High School students and faculty, we felt it was a win/win for all organizations involved in this partnership and the community at-large.” 

“The City of Jasper, and all of the stakeholders in the new Regional Wellness Center want to thank Dr. Lorey and the School Board members for agreeing to sell the property,” said Mayor Dean Vonderheide. “This property clearly became our preferred site for the new facility. With finalizing our project location, we are very excited to continue to secure the necessary funding to allow this important visionary community project to become reality.” 

Currently the on-going Capital Campaign has secured over $6 million in pledges. City and YMCA leaders indicated they are very pleased and encouraged with the success and look forward to sharing additional information about the capital campaign and other funding sources sometime in late Spring or early Summer. 

The proposed 90,000 square foot facility will include an 8,000 sq. ft. fitness center, 4 full-court gymnasiums, 14,000 sq. ft. indoor aquatic center, indoor elevated walking track, 4 group exercise studios, and 5 community rooms including a community kitchen. An additional 19,000 square foot Early Learning Center is in the planning stages as a future phase of the project. 

“Greater Jasper School Corporation and the Tri-County YMCA have developed a great partnership in recent years in addressing school age child care needs, ” Mike Steffe, CEO of the Tri-County YMCA commented. “We look forward to expanding our partnership to provide additional opportunities, including a future Early Learning Center located at the site to serve children ages 3-5.” 

To learn more about the plans for the new Regional Wellness Center, contact Mayor Dean Vonderheide at (812) 482-4255 or [email protected], or Mike Steffe, Tri-County YMCA CEO at (812) 367-2323 or [email protected].