Last summer the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District and Sports Facilities Advisory launched a series of community discussions to determine the future uses of the Broadway Middle School.

The plan will be used to guide and steer a strategic plan for the entire district, Skyler Archibald park district executive director, said. “We are hoping to kick that plan off sometime this calendar year.”

On last Tuesday, the district and consultants shared the finished report, detailing program plans, financial performance and economic impact analysis.

According to the strategic plan, prepared by Sports Facilities Advisory and Scott Edwards Architecture, the center is projected to have an economic impact both for residents and businesses.

The center is expected to require an operational subsidy of about $300,000 in the first year, decreasing to approximately $232,000 in the fifth. The estimates are conservative, they write, and may be exceeded as programming expands.

The center is projected to generate approximately 3,200 new lodging room nights annually within five years and $1.5 million in annual direct spending at the bond’s maturity throughout the local area.

“In recognition of the work completed to date and the information above and detailed throughout this report, SFA believes that the facilities as planned have the potential to accomplish the project team’s goals if pursued,” consultants wrote.

The report will be used as the district develops its own strategic plan, the district’s executive director Skyler Archibald said. “This was a really important first step after we purchased the building.”

Consultants provided an overview of the market and existing facilities, developed preliminary program space allocations, forecasted financial performance in facility operations, as well as economic impact and made recommendations for the center’s next steps.

The report describes existing space as administration, early childhood, gyms, locker rooms, and community recreation space. Education and child care areas feature a dedicated entry and program space for preschool and early education, including rooms for infants and toddlers. Space for arts, music and dance programming will take place in the performing arts room. Flexible classrooms can be used as additional arts space.

Access through the community recreation entry will allow access to the fitness areas, as well as the gymnasiums and locker rooms, without disturbing child care or tenants. Special events will be presented in an area adjacent to the kitchen — the current cafeteria — and will allow private events uninterrupted space as a result of a closable glass wall that will isolate the area from adjacent spaces.

Leased space will include areas for business related tenants that share complementary missions and interests as the park district. Tenant areas are secured from the park district program spaces with a dedicated entry.

To meet financial goals, the report recommends a funding plan to cover the cost of renovation. A long-term plan must be developed to cover long-term capital improvement and replacement costs.

Revenue forecasts, based on existing programs and new programs, show steady increases as sports tournaments, education, arts and fitness programs increase. Building rentals and vending also add to the financial revenue forecast.

Programs such as the child care, fitness membership, and tenant rental spaces are important to the overall performance of the model, consultants wrote. “These spaces have an opportunity to contribute to the overall profitability of the center, however additional program and rental revenue may be needed to address the anticipated annual operational subsidy of approximately $500,000.”

Rental tournaments could allow the district to capitalize further partnerships with existing service providers.

“I feel the projections are reasonable,” Archibald said. “However, they come as projections and different circumstances present may alter the projections. The main point I have from the projections is that the building can be operated sustainably and offer a large amount of programs and services in the future.:

As for a name, the building’s two gyms and the center are up for ideas.

Sunset Recreation Center will remain the building name for now, although sponsorship may be an option.

“I’m all for some big company coming in and throwing in a whole bunch of money and we call it — whatever — Nike,” board president Katharine Parker said.

Hamer Marshall suggested honoring Stubby Lyons, the former Seaside High School coach and city councilor who died in late 2020.

“We chose to label it the Sunset Recreation Center to help pivot the building in the minds of our community to its new owners and uses,” Archibald said. “”The name wasn’t necessarily intended to be permanent but is working adequately now. I think we’d be open to a discussion about naming rights/sponsors, etc — but we haven’t invested any resources into pursuing that.”

The district paid $62,000 for the report with an additional $3,000 in travel expenses.

The report will be used for the strategic plan and posted on the city website, board president Katharine Parker said. “Then we’ll start having meetings for an overarching strategic plan for the district.”