Progress begins on Jefferson City multi-purpose room

The multi-million dollar Parks and Recreation multi-purpose room and Lincoln University Athletic Center crossed a major hurdle Tuesday night.

The initial phase for design was approved by the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission.

The first phase costs about $800,000, but the city is able to split the cost with Lincoln, so taxpayers are only paying about $395,000.

Tuesday night, the Parks and Rec Board approved an architect to start designing the $10.5 to $12.5 million dollar project that will be built across from the high school.

Parks officials said the design committee will start meeting next week to get the project underway.

Parks Director Bill Lockwood said he expects some tentative designs could be coming together in the next month or so, and they could be putting out bids for construction by the end of the summer.

The project will be about 80,000 square feet and will be a multi-purpose room for city use, and an athletic center for Lincoln University.

Lockwood said these are exciting times for the city and Lincoln.

“The partnership is firm. The site selection is firm, and the decision to pursue the architectural services was made final today,” said Lockwood.

Right now, they’re looking for possible completion by the end of 2016.