Recreation Center Study Results -Joint Nibley Parks and Recreation Committee & Nibley City Council

- The consultant’s survey results showed overwhelming support for an indoor recreation/wellness center, with about 4,700 survey responses and roughly 90%+ expressing positive interest. A smaller but notable group, about 7.6%, opposed a taxpayer-funded facility. - The strongest priorities identified were swimming/aquatics, adult fitness/recreation, and youth sports/recreation. For specific amenities, indoor court space, cardio/strength equipment, weightlifting, indoor walking/jogging space, and indoor field space ranked highest. - Aquatics feedback strongly favored lap swimming and learn-to-swim programs, followed by zero-depth entry areas and family-friendly features like water slides. Respondents preferred an indoor year-round pool over an outdoor seasonal pool, and most pool supporters said they would pay an additional tax to help fund it. - Survey respondents said they would use a facility often, with more than 3,000 indicating weekly or more frequent use. Support was also strong for a property tax increase, with the average willingness to pay around $20 per month per household. - Public commenters strongly supported the project, especially the need for pool access for water polo and swim programs, winter recreation, and broader community health benefits. Several said the South End of Cache Valley is underserved and that the center would help attract and retain families and professionals. - Staff and consultants emphasized that location matters, with most respondents preferring a facility within 15 minutes of home. They also noted Nibley residents showed especially strong support, including high willingness to back a tax increase for an indoor pool. - The council and committee discussed three broad paths: Nibley building alone, forming a south-end special service district with neighboring cities, or pursuing a countywide solution. The general leaning was toward a south-end special service district because it balances control, timeline, and funding capacity better than the other options. - Legal/timing questions were raised about how a special service district would be created and whether it would require a public vote before bonding. Members noted they need attorney guidance on the sequence and on how to handle differing votes across participating communities. - Staff said the next phase is to refine facility concepts, then work with Ballard King on market analysis and a pro forma to estimate what size and amenity mix the population can support. They also plan to separate and share Nibley-specific survey results and continue outreach to surrounding communities, schools, and youth sports groups. - The meeting also covered broader next steps: reporting back to nearby cities, holding focus groups, exploring funding mechanisms and public-private partnerships, and considering a statistically valid voter survey before any bond proposal.