REED CITY – With the Old Rugged Cross Historical Museum moving to a new location in downtown Reed City, city officials are starting discussions on what to do with the building.
The building, located in Rambadt Park, belongs to the city, and although it is need of some renovations, some officials are suggesting using it as a community or recreation center.
During a Reed City Planning Commission meeting, Dan Burchette, a Reed City councilman, addressed planners about the possibility.
“After the last city council meeting, we (Burchette and his wife, Linsey) were discussing different things we could do,” Burchette said. “We talked about possibly making it a recreation center or a community center. We could add on a gymnasium for different activities.”
Burchette told planners that the city did not offer any facilities for youth sports programs and they were having to rent the elementary school gym for youth basketball. The area youth soccer association was using the high school soccer fields, he said.
“The Upward youth basketball usually uses the elementary gym, and they (the school) just canceled because of COVID-19, and now these kids won’t be able to play basketball,” Burchette explained.
“We have been looking at other communities that have recreational or community buildings, and we think it is something we might want to look into for our community,” he added. “Little leagues pay good money every year to use different facilities. We could rent it out to AYSO or Upward, or to other community organizations for yoga and other activities.”
Councilman Trevor Guiles reminded the commission that Reed City's recreation plan for 2019-23 states the city will “maintain a variety of sports facilities to serve Reed City residents of all ages,” and “support, promote and seek funding for a sports complex.”
“I can see where something of this nature would fit in to that plan,” Guiles said.
Commission Chairperson Dawn Montague agreed, saying it would be nice to have a central location like the old museum building and expand on it so that they could have classes there and rent out the facility.
Some planners questioned the viability of the plan given that the water to the facility is piped up from the park and there is a septic system over which they would not be able to build.
“If we are talking about researching a use for the building and getting a grant to fund it, perhaps we could get a grant to put a new well up there,” Guiles said. “We are looking at whether this is a potential direction that we want to pursue, and my feeling is ‘Yes.’ We could also look at adding some cross country trails through the woods that could be used during the winter.”
Montague questioned whether the city was providing water to businesses in the area, suggesting that perhaps they could tap into the city’s water and sewer lines.
City Manager Ron Howell said the township owns the lines, but they have an agreement with the city to provide water and sewer.
“There is a water main that is owned by the township, and a sewer line that runs north and south that connects into the city system,” Howell said. “The township has the right to run one line per building, whether it be water or sewer, and connect to the city lines.”
Howell suggested that if the city were to expand the water main up Park Street, around Howard Street and back down in a loop, then they could possibly tap into the city water and sewer lines, eliminating the need for a septic system.
“I love the idea of having that building as a community center and building on it to have a basketball court,” Montague said. “If we build a gym, we have to think about parking too. We can’t have people parking in the street. And then, we also have the disc golf course there.”
Burchette said the disc golf course could be adjusted if needed.
“You could build on an area big enough there for a gym and still have plenty of room for the disc golf course,” he said.
Planner Sarah Pruitt expressed concern about the loss of green space and changing the plans for the disc golf course.
“There’s been a lot of talk about how to bring more green space to the community for people that like to hike, and this seems like it is taking one of the greatest green areas away,” Pruitt said. “If we are bringing a disc golf course to the area, people are going to come for the disc golf. If we move the buckets around, people are not going to want to come and then the course be different.”
Burchette disagreed, saying that once people get used to a course, they often like to see the buckets moved to make the course more challenging.
“I think the idea would be to expand on a space that, although it is a green space, it is right next to U.S.-10 and is currently not being utilized,” City Councilman Nate Bailey added. “It would be impossible to use in its current condition.”
“I think this is a great piece of property that would be a great thing for the council to pursue and seek funding for because I think it would be a great asset to the community,” Montague said. “I think it is a building and an area that can be repurposed as a hall that people can rent for different activities.
“It sounds like the group is pretty much in agreement that it would be nice to do something with the building,” she continued. “Obviously, it is going to involve some fundraising and that would be up to the city as to what they want to do.”
Planners voted 5-1 in favor of recommending the proposal to the city council, with Pruitt voting no.
The Old Rugged Cross Historical Museum board of directors voted in December to relocate the museum to the former McDowell Funeral Home, at 138 W. Slosson Ave. after accepting an offer from the John W. McDowell estate for the use of the building to house the museum.
The relocation is expected to take place in the coming months, with a reopening possibly in June, said Bailey, the museum board president.
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Former museum building in Reed City may become rec center - The Pioneer
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