New Wellness and Recreation Center expected to boost Jefferson City’s economy

The new Wellness and Multi-purpose Recreation Center is expected to bring more business to Jefferson City, according to city leaders.

ABC 17 News got its first look inside the facility still under construction Wednesday as the Parks and Recreation Commission gave a tour to the city council and members of the public.

The project is set to be completed by the end of January 2017.

“It’s going to draw some tournaments, I mean there’s already talk going around that there’s people looking into bringing basketball, volleyball, archery tournaments here,” First Ward City Councilman Jim Branch said. “More business, more hotel stays, you know, everything kind of grows on itself.”

The $11.1 million project will bring four basketball courts, four volleyball courts, a fitness center, classrooms and much more to the community.

Forty percent of the project is funded by Lincoln University.

The remaining 60 percent comes from the parks commission through the half-cent parks sales tax.

“We’re going to be able to do wellness programs, events for our community that we have had to go outside of our community for in the past,” Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director Todd Spalding said. “Plus we’re going to be able to do tournaments and bring economic development into our community as well.”