Cheyenne County Community Center expansion in third phase

SIDNEY -- The Cheyenne County community was encouraged to dream big, as if the checkbook didn't matter.

Boss City Brewing hosted a public meeting meant to hone in the vision of the third Phase of updating the Cheyenne County Community Center. The Cheyenne County Community Center is updating in three phases: Phase 1, opening the Training Room in February 2023, and Phase 2 expand Learning Korner facility. Phase 3 is to build a new health and fitness center. 

Site and timeline are yet to be determined. Should Phase 3 need a larger tract of land 

Sidney Regional Medical Center owns an 8-acre plot south of the hospital that is proposed as the location of Phase 3. Should the project need more space, Sidney Regional Medical Center CEO Jason Petik said there is the potential of another 8-acre plot.

At one point, the public was encouraged to dream big; disregard potential obstacles. According to a fact sheet presented at the Monday information meeting, the current Cheyenne County Community Center will remain at its current location. It will be the home of the daycare, preschool and after school youth programs. 

Each person present was given a card to write the interests or desires in a new health center.

Jana Jenson, Nebraska Community Foundation, said not all ideas will be in the final design.

"Just because your ideas went up on the wall -- I just want to clarify --  doesn't mean it's going to happen. It just means there's great input from tonight and it will be considered," Jenson said.

She then highlighted the process going forward.

"Once the Cheyenne County Community Center Board gets to review all this, and have a meeting. They want to go and look at other complexes to see what and how they're doing things. Then there will be four input and community meetings to try to get this all figured out. This is just a draft. It is just a proposal," she said.  

The senior programs, including Congregate Meals, will be moved to The Training Room location at 10th Avenue and Pine and The Training Room will move to the Phase 3 location. The Training Room will continue to have 24/7 access, and a full walk/run track.

The questions offered to the audience were simple: what do you want the new facility to offer, and dream big; disregard potential limits or road blocks. Phase 3 is currently in a vision stage, according to a "Frequently Asked Questions" sheet. Suggestions and interests in the future location: indoor and outdoor athletic courts and indoor pool or aquatic center. 

Phase 3 was loosely referred to as the health and wellness center.