Wythe County and Rural Retreat release results of the conceptual planning study conducted in relation to the proposed Western Wythe County Wellness and Fitness Center

On Oct. 24, 2011, Gary Cody, Director of Parks, Recreation and Tourism for Wythe County, presented results of a conceptual planning study for the Western Wythe County Wellness and Fitness Center to a room of local officials and potential funders. Cody hopes the new center will promote a healthy lifestyle for the residents of the area.

“[The center] is greatly needed in the Rural Retreat area based on the findings the feasibility study implies, which there are over 3,000 people of the 8,000 people surveyed in the target area that are committed to living a healthy lifestyle by using the center if it is constructed,” said Cody.

The center will expand the county’s efforts of a healthy community while not competing with existing fitness and wellness centers. Cody believes it has the ability to impact the community in several positive ways.

“The Center would be a success story for so many that hasn’t been touched by physical fitness in their lives,” said Cody, “meaning people would be living a healthy lifestyle and in turn would drop the obesity rate and develop a more productive population in Western Wythe Co., Rural Retreat and Eastern Smyth Co.”

The study, a joint effort by Wythe County and Rural Retreat, was conducted to evaluated several factors including determining the need for the facility, identifying activities that would take place in the facility, recommending staffing, preparing a conceptual design of the facility, providing a construction cost and projecting the potential operating expenses and sustainability plan.

After evaluating seventeen identified criteria of five possible sites, the ideal location was on Buck Avenue across from Klockner-Pentaplast. The site includes 45-acres; however, only 12-acres would need to be purchased for the new facility.

Major components of the 25,000 square foot, two-story center could include aerobic/multipurpose rooms, juice bar, weight and strength training area, youth center and more.

Of the 25,000 square feet, the biggest component would be 7,700 square foot gymnasium. Other large portions would be a locker room at 2,500 square feet, child care and playroom at 1,070 square feet, and reception and lobby area, offices and public amenities at 1,910 square feet.

In addition to facility requirements and location, the study conducted local market analysis, looking at both Wythe and Smyth Counties. According to the study, Lifetime Wellness Center in Marion and Wytheville Community Center in Wytheville, meet the criteria of a full service.

Wytheville Community Center was built with $14 million of a rural develop loan from USDA and a $2.5 million grant from local hospital.  There are up to 4,000 memberships among the variety of categories.

To determine the potential residential participants, 3,391 households and 8,011 people in the primary trade area were surveyed. Based on information collected in 2010, participation rates in target area could consist of 880 (basketball), 110 (racquetball), 310 (tennis), 850 (running), 1,630 (general exercising/weight lifting), 1,650 (swimming), and 1,050 (aerobic exercises).

Approximately 92 percent of the participants identified will use facilities within the primary trade area. Based on the 2010 data received, the primary trade area will support 326 participants in basketball, 86 in racquetball, 115 in tennis, 197 in runners, 905 in general exercise/weight lifting, 992 in swimming and 631 in aerobic exercise.

The proposed center should support 3,644 participants per year. Total revenues of $696,000 in first year is projected to grow to $1.82 million by 2021.

Expenses for salaries, utilities, marketing, maintenance, etc., are estimated to begin at $1,176,000 the first year, resulting in a net loss of $480,000 in the first year.

The total estimate of cost for the center including development and construction, legal fees and equipment totals $6,747,700. The facility is planned to be funded by local governing bodies and expected local grant funding.