CVB BERATES PLAN FOR PARK BUILDING

Members of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Board on Wednesday berated preliminary plans for a multi-purpose building in the city's new Osage Park.

"It's clear to me that you got all your input on this plan from parks and recreation," said board member David Ross.

Board member Dan Drury added: "What we've got is a parks and rec building, and the CVB's got a corner of it. It seems to me somebody's building a sports facility with our money."

The $2 million building and development of Osage Park -- along with a softball and soccer complex at Shawnee Park -- is being financed with surplus tax funds earmarked for Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) activities and economic development.

The project initially was picked by the CVB Advisory Board among dozens as the best use of excess tourism funds.

The city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and city staff then went to work pursuing plans for the development.

But when the project's architects revealed preliminary plans for the 39,000-square-foot building Wednesday, CVB board members said it was apparent the board had little input in the plans.

The building would be situated south of the Mt. Auburn Road-North Kingshighway intersection.

It features an open lobby area, concessions, offices for the parks and recreation department and the CVB, a classroom, meeting rooms, a weight room, lockers, and a 152- by 112-foot open arena -- large enough for two basketball or volleyball courts.

"The way it's designed now," said board member Dennis "Doc" Cain, "it's certainly more sports-oriented than multi-use oriented.

"I think we have to be a little broader in the scope of what we do in this building," he added. "We can do a lot with this building."

Cain suggested that more facilities be provided that will enable caterers to serve meetings and private functions at the building.

"To leave kitchen facilities out of this building would be a big mistake in my opinion," he said. "You've at least got to have cooling space and warming space for caterers.

"Private functions in the building will be one of the main sources of revenue."

But the architects, David Alberson and Tony Sebek, said the plans still are subject to change.

"There needs to be a common program from everybody who's involved," said Alberson.

Sebek said he and Alberson each have had single meetings with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the city parks and recreation staff and the city administrative staff.

"This is still subject to change based on input from all the groups involved," he said.

Ross agreed that there needs to be a "meeting of the minds" between the people who will use the facility.

Board members also took issue with plans for a concessions building at the softball and soccer complex in Shawnee Park. Drury said the building plan, which includes indoor seating, kitchen facilities, and locker, is much too extravagant.