Mountain View center report approved by Sun City rec board

Will include theater, gymnasium

Theater and basketball enthusiasts were thrilled with the report that will serve as the foundation for Mountain View Recreation Center reconstruction plans.

A string of residents voiced their approval after the Recreation Centers of Sun City Board of Directors approved the Long Range Planning Ad Hoc Committee’s report on the center, 9749 N. 107th Ave. The center reconstruction project is expected to cost $17.5 million and is scheduled to begin in 2022.

The committee report was not among documents available at the June 8 board meeting, but some residents were privy to the proposal and confirmed the new building will include both a theater and gymnasium. The report was later released to the Independent.

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Mountain View center report approved by Sun City rec board

Will include theater, gymnasium

Posted Thursday, June 11, 2020 1:00 pm

MOUNTAIN VIEW RECOMMENDATIONS

The Ad Hoc Long Range Planning Team of 2020 comprised of Rich Peterson, Ruth Welscott, Theresa Mussario, Edna Gills, Kevin Christensen, James Kepler, Bill Loslo, Elsa Will, Marianne Henrich along with Dan Schreoder (chairman) and Sue Wilson (co-chairwoman) met six times to develop the recommendations for the reconstruction of the Mountain View Recreation Center. The items under each main category are prioritized with the highest priority listed first. This is the committee’s recommendation:

Theater/Auditorium

• 400 permanent comfortable theater seats (22”) at an angle with no steps.

• Main entrance of a building face southeast with non-heat producing glass wall overlooking pool area.

• Restrooms in lobby and backstage.

• Aisles have designated wheelchair spots with adjacent seats marked as wheelchair accompanied.

• Lobby have an area for ticket sales and collecting tickets.

• Welcoming size lobby.

• Two large dressing rooms backstage.

• Lighting and sound systems updated.

• Sound board located in the rear on the floor of the auditorium.

• Loft at back of auditorium to allow for spotlights.

• Make-up room.

• Side hall from rear to stage to allow for wheelchair and cast access.

• Front and rear digital projection systems.

• Curtains for the stage area.

• Area on the floor in front of stage to use as orchestra pit.

• Dual purpose green room to hold offstage cast and Player’s Club office.

• Storage areas for sets as well as for set construction behind stage.

• Fly-loft behind stage meaning higher ceiling.

• Locked space for current production costumes.

• Loading dock behind stage.

• Quality video equipment to project in green room.

• Dual purpose black box stage for rehearsals and meeting room.

Swimming Pool(s)

• Two pools, sports pool (SP) and resort pool (RP).

• RP have a rectangular shape utilizing 7,200 feet with two outdoor showers and with markings for two lanes.

• Outdoor spa.

• Rubberized decking.

• Pool locker rooms with each shower having a drain and an individual attached dressing room as well as a family restroom.

• RP have a larger deep end (7-8’) than current pool.

• RP have a ramp and handicap chair to enter pool.

• Oxygenated system for both pools.

• Electical outlet near RP.

• SP have room for two volleyball courts as well as two lap lanes.

• Audio systems for both pools.

• Shade for parts of deck and part of RP.

• Lockers have an ability to lock with a padlock.

• RP have a rail around perimeter exclusing the bench area.

• PA system for monitors to broadcast to pool area as well as an emergency button in the locker rooms.

• RP have a bench on one side of the pool.

• Outdoor lighting around pool as well as in-pool lighting.

• SP to have netting to separate lap lanes from activity area.

• Water wall separating RP from SP.

Fitness Area/Gym

• Common entrance with fitness and gym to the right with auditorium to the left.

• Fitness area on second floor facing east with full glass wall looking out on pool.

• Fitness area 3,100 square feet.

• Hardwood floor in gym.

• Locker rooms on first floor with doorway from the lobby and the gym with an emergency button available.

• Ramp from entrance leading down to pool and pool locker rooms.

• Fitness area open to lobby below with ramp and elevator.

• Volleyball courts painted within basketball courts.

• Gym contain two 42’X60’ basketball courts.

• Lockers have an ability to lock with a padlock.

• Storage space to hold volleyball nets, poles and balls.

• Automated removable curtain between courts that would roll down from ceiling.

• Covered areas on floor to hold volleyball poles.

• Automated six fold-up baskets.

• Another room on second floor at 1,500 square feet to hold spin and recumbent bike room.

• Large screen and overhead digital projector on front wall of spin bike room.

• Area in the lobby for a rock climbing wall.

Mini Golf

• Move 13th hole to accommodate ramp leading from parking lot to auditorium.

• Remodel outside restrooms and move to accommodate ramp.

• Stucco slump block walls between holes.

Other Outside Areas

• Get rid of hot water solar field or move to a rooftop.

• Remove tennis courts and replace with four pickleball courts.

• Leave lawn bowling as is.

• Create shaded space for those waiting to play pickleball.

• Create a social space and golf car parking in current gravel area under electric solar panels.

Source: Recreation Centers of Sun City

Mountain View Recreation Center
9749 N. 107th Ave.
Sun City, AZ
View larger map

By Rusty Bradshaw
Twitter: @SunCitiesEditor

Theater and basketball enthusiasts were thrilled with the report that will serve as the foundation for Mountain View Recreation Center reconstruction plans.

While the gym is a recent request, the theater has been bandied about for about 45 years.

“During the RCSC Jan. 30 board meeting, resident Ben Roloff talked about discussions in 1975 of a theater to be included in the Bell Recreation Center, but it was decided the funding was not available,” said resident Don Schordje. “Thank you for bringing this to fruition. The Sun City Players support it and are ready to work together with the board and management on this project.”

Resident Terpin Daughters said he now has something to look forward to.

“I hope to perform in that theater before I die,” he said.

The theater would include 400 permanent comfortable theater-style seats, restrooms and two large dressing rooms backstage, lighting and sound system updates, a sound board, a makeup room and other features.

Gymnasium supporters were no less enthusiastic. Chris Wilcox thanked the board for including a gymnasium where basketball could be played, and Tom Tripp said he was glad to see not only the gym but a climbing wall included in it.

“I am thrilled the indoor basketball court is included so we can play year-round,” resident Les Hightlin said.

The gym/fitness area would include a hardwood floor striped for both basketball and volleyball, locker rooms, a spin bike room and other features.

Kat Bimmell asked if the Mountain View plans would be made available to the membership to view. RCSC board Vice President Dale Lehrer said the board’s approval of the ad hoc committee’s plans now sends the project to management for further planning. She added town hall meetings would be conducted to showcase the plans and gather further resident input.

The full report provided to the Independent is available for viewing at yourvalley.net.

Ms. Lehrer also expressed some concerns with the preliminary plans. She said the acoustics in the theater were not addressed and she believed it was important to have central access to reduce the amount of employees needed to monitor and to provide better usage data. She also believed handicap access to the pool was not adequately addressed.

Resident Laurie Ellingson asked management to make changes in the plans to retain all the amenities that now exist at Mountain View. The preliminary plans call for the tennis courts there to be taken out to allow for more room for the theater.

“I request you take a look at and redo the plans so we do not eliminate anything that is already there,” she said.

Jan Ek, RCSC general manager, said the projected cost of the Mountain View project could change based on the final plans.

“It could be the same or it could be lower,” she said.

The RCSC board tasked the ad hoc committee in January to produce a report by May 15 that created a preliminary plan for the center’s reconstruction based on input from residents during past town hall meetings and other input.

RCSC board member Rich Hoffer praised the committee for its work, despite the COVID-19 pandemic that forced the closure of RCSC facilities and cancellation of most meetings beginning in March.

“This is one of the best reports I’ve seen written,” he said. “I have rarely seen a report so well thought out and well written.”

RCSC board President Dan Schreoder said the committee continued to work through the pandemic, communicating by email.

Rusty Bradshaw
News Editor | Sun City & Sun City West
@SunCitiesEditor

Rbradshaw@iniusa.org

Rusty Bradshaw is a 40-year veteran of community journalism, having worked at newspapers in Wyoming, Oregon and Arizona. He has been with Independent Newsmedia 15 years.

Rusty earned a junior college certificate from Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming and a bachelor of science degree from Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande Oregon.

An avid football fan, Rusty also enjoys photography, reading, spending time outdoors and enjoying life with his wife. He also authored three books of fiction, “The Rehabilitation of Miss Little,” “Moist on the Mountain” and "Gorge Justice." Visit www.rustythewriter.org.