The Upper Macungie Board of Supervisors granted contracts totaling $38.5 million for the construction of the new community center.
Township Manager Robert Ibach Jr. stated that about $8 million in bids are still pending, making the project's overall cost approximately $46 million. According to a presentation made last month, the Upper Macungie Township Community Fund, the nonprofit organization that is supporting the center, has raised $20 million in committed cash and has $16 million in grant funding waiting. The township is currently thinking about using municipal bonds to cover a portion of the project's remaining costs.
The township may utilize its reserves to make the payment, according to board chairman Jeff Fleischaker, but it might need the funds for other projects down the road. Grange Park would be home to the 180,000-square-foot indoor entertainment center. Proposed images show that it would include two multipurpose courts, a grass field, meeting areas, and a concession stand. The cost of using the center is still up in the air. However, research conducted in April 2023 recommended charging $300 for adults and $600 for families as the yearly resident membership price.
The purpose of the study was to see whether the facility could actually operate, and if so, the rates might not be so high. In 2011, the supervisors of the township decided to proceed with the construction of a community center, with the intention of having it finished by 2017.
The "centerpiece" of the community center, according to Community Fund Vice Chairwoman Laura McHugh, will be a 130,000 square foot grass field, which is equivalent to three regulation soccer fields in size. There would be a little fitness center above the field and a walking route encircling it. Lehigh Valley Health Network will set up the fitness center and also intends to provide health-related programs like immunization clinics, educational lectures, nutrition classes, and screenings. The two multipurpose courts in the drawings, according to McHugh, might be utilized for pickleball, basketball, volleyball, and social events other than sporting events. The center would also feature free public wi-fi, concessions, and adaptable conference spaces with dividing walls.
According to McHugh, Lehigh County's largest emergency shelter will eventually be located in the community center. Additionally, supervisors decided unanimously to allow PFM Advisors, a financial advisory firm, to obtain data regarding municipal bond funding for the project.
Jamie Schlesinger, Managing Director of PFM, presented a possible financial plan for the project. A $10 million bond with an approximate total interest yield of $7 million and a $17.5 million bond with an approximate total interest yield of $14.2 million were two of the estimations that were given. Schlesinger stated, "I would prefer to have that [reserve] as flexibility for future usage because there will be things coming down the line that you may be considering, so I think it makes a lot of sense to utilize both debt and your cash to kind of counter things."
Schlesinger claims that Upper Macungie has never issued public debt. Residents of the township stated in a poll that they did not want the municipality to incur debt in order to build the community center, according to Board Vice Chairman Sunny Ghai. "It makes me uneasy to vote in support of something I know other residents were worried about," Ghai remarked.
Jim Brunnell, the supervisor, stated that he is in favor of funding since the township reserves will continue to generate interest. In the end, Brunnell stated, "that is the smart thing to do right now as a commercial choice." According to Brunnell, he was initially opposed to the notion of constructing the community center, but after seeing how many locals were in favor of it, he changed his mind. He declared that he believed the timing was right to start building. "Everything has come together," said Brunnel. "We must act if we are going to take this action.