By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
GREAT BEND — In 1995, Barton Community College sponsored 13 sports teams with just under 230 athletes. The college, just outside of Great Bend, has 22 programs with over 370 student athletes in 2022. Despite that growth, there has not been any structural additions to the main gym since 1995, when the Kirkman Student Activity Center was established.
With a need to expand, Barton Athletic
Director Trevor Rolfs said he is ready to move forward with a fundraising
campaign, collecting private funding, to raise $16,885,000.
"With any athletic program, there are always needs," said Rolfs. "We've
seen those needs grow over the years. There has been a lot of homework
put into this to research those needs. Certainly, we've seen what others
across our conference have done with enhancements to their facilities.
We're all fighting for the same recruits."
The plan calls for a major addition to the south of the main gym facility that would
include a new training and fitness facility, wrestling room, cheer and dance space,
eSports facility, Hall of Fame room, trophy cases, locker rooms, offices and
storage space. The proposal also calls for the addition of three tennis courts,
press box and restrooms at the track and soccer complex and a press box for the
softball field.
Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman said all the shortfalls and needs were
assessed in a two-year study.
"Cost estimates are very general at this time, but we recognize that
costs continue to climb with no sign of letting up," said Heilman. "As
far as financial resources, this is to be a funding drive concept from
private individuals."
Along with new construction, the plan calls for several transformations and remodels of
current facilities.
The goal is to have Rolfs collect enough private donations for the project but
Heilman noted financing through Certificates of Participation (COP) is a
possibility. A COP is where an investor purchases a share of the lease revenues
of a program rather than the bond being secured by those revenues. As a last resort,
the college could access their reserves.
At Tuesday’s study session, the Barton Board of Trustees were in favor of
giving Rolfs approval to proceed with the private-donation fundraising.
New Construction:
1.
Major addition to the south of main gym facility that would include a
new strength training facility, cardio fitness facility, wrestling room,
cheer and dance practice space, eSports facility, Hall of Fame room,
trophy cases, classrooms, locker rooms, offices and storage space
2. Addition of three tennis courts (to make six total) and awning area
3. Locker rooms, press box and restrooms at track/soccer complex
4. Press box facility at softball complex
5. Storage shed/lookout building at golf driving range
Transformation of Current Facilities:
1. Current Cougar Den becomes swim coach offices
2. Current volleyball locker room becomes men's basketball office/storage
3. Current training room becomes women's basketball locker room/restroom facility
4. Current women's locker room becomes volleyball locker room
5. Current P-4A classroom becomes women's basketball offices/storage
6. Current weight room becomes athletic training room
7. Current assistant athletic director/sports information director offices becomes officials locker room
8. Current P-5A classroom becomes storage and tennis locker room
Remodel of Current Facilities:
1. Men's basketball locker room
2. Women's basketball locker room
3. Concessions area and west main hallway