Sports complex proposed near Highway 52 and Pole Lin

Luther College and city officials are working together to construct a $1.75 million public sports complex north of U.S. Highway 52. The proposed complex would provide an athletic facility for the City of Decorah.

The complex is to consist of two softball/Little League fields, one softball/baseball practice infield, one dedicated soccer pitch, eight acres of multi-use green space, a perimeter walking trail and a cross-country training loop. Luther College currently owns the property for the proposed site

“Luther will be leasing to the city-school entity, the tract of the land on which the complex will be built,” Jerry Johnson, director of public information, said.

Owning the land for the project is a far as Luther College’s involvement will go regarding the complex. The development, as well as the usage, when completed, will benefit the city of Decorah.

“The lease is to be a token of $1 for the next 25 years,” Johnson said.

The City of Decorah and
surrounding community organizations such as the Parks and Recreation Commission are in charge of allocating funds for the facility.

“The plan is that the funding will come from several sources,” Jerry Freund, Decorah city manager, said.

“The Parks and Recreation Commission has committed $150,000 to this project,” Fruend said. “The next broad source of funds will be from grants.”

Some of the grants utilized for the complex come from Iowa Great Places and Vision Iowa. Private donations are also being used as a funding source.

The City of Decorah and the community decided to pursue this athletic complex because it was one of the less-expensive proposals. Past proposals were much more expensive; an $8 million aquatic center was considered.

“The less-imposing estimate for this project, along with several other timely opportunities, has led many to think that this project warrants consideration now, “ Freund said.

President Richard Torgerson agreed that initial proposals from the city, high school, district and college all ran very high dollar amount estimates for recreational centers that would be all-inclusive.

“Looking at the high school’s recreational need and the college’s need of an aquatic center, the first set of conceptual plans for these facilities came in at about $17 million,” President Torgerson said. “In an effort to scale back, an aquatic center where the city’s current outdoor pool was proposed.”

Anderson Prairie, owned by
Luther, was considered for a new aquatic center for $9 million, but the 32 acres of land north of Highway 52 was ultimately decided upon for the new sports complex.