Cedar Valley 50: Cedar Valley SportsPlex alters downtown, economic landscape

WATERLOO | The massive Cedar Valley SportsPlex transformed Waterloo's downtown skyline and enhance economic development options when it opened in January this year.

The $27.5 million, 140,000-square-foot facility covering nearly two city blocks next to U.S. Highway 218 was developed through a partnership of private business leaders and the city who were challenged by major employers to invigorate the downtown and create a quality of life to attract skilled workers.

The building includes basketball courts, fitness and weight equipment, a field house with artificial turf for soccer, football and baseball, a jogging track, swimming pool, golf simulator, children's play area, child care center, multipurpose rooms and offices.

The nonprofit Waterloo Development Corp. spearheaded private fundraising efforts for the project after voters in 2002 rejected a sales tax referendum to build the facility.

Major donations included $8 million in funds from the Black Hawk County Gaming Association, $4 million from the McElroy Trust, $3 million from the John Deere Foundation and $2 million each from the Young Family Foundation and the estate of Carlton and Thelma Winter.

City leaders cleared the way for the development by spending about $3 million to buy and demolish buildings along the Jefferson Street construction site.

Waterloo Leisure Services is operating the SportsPlex, which boasted 1,150 members within six months of opening for business.

Designed by InVison Architecture and built by Cardinal Construction, the SportsPlex has blended with the RiverLoop Expo Plaza and Public Market, Phelps Youth Pavilion and RiverLoop Amphitheatre in an ever-changing downtown landscape.

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Cedar Valley 50: Cedar Valley SportsPlex alters downtown, economic landscape