News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Mike Richards jumps rope while working out at the Alpena Events Complex on Thursday. Results from a survey seeking public input about amenities that could be included in an expansion plan for the APlex were released earlier this month. The top items on the wish list are a new community pool, a walking track, and more workout and gym space.

ALPENA — A new community pool, more gym space with turf, and an expanded fitness area are a few of people’s top priorities if the Alpena Events Complex is expanded.

An events pavilion was also high on the respondents list.

More than 1,100 people responded to a survey by Alpena County and its partners seeking input from residents on what they believe the recreation center needs if an expansion project moves forward.

The county, Alpena Public School, the Park Family Foundation, and others are in the initial stage of planning for a possible build-out of the APlex.

Alpena County Administrator Mary Catherine Hannah said more than 1,100 people filled out and submitted the survey, which she said is a lot when compared to other questionnaires that have been done in the past. She said a wide range of ideas, thoughts, and opinions were revealed in the results and they set the stage for the consultant, C2AE Architecture and Engineering, from Lansing.

“Obviously a new pool was at the top, and that has been a subject that really started the conversation,” Hannah said. “Close behind that was a desire for more gym space. We have heard a lot that there is no place to play or practice in the community. Many people wanted an indoor walking track and more indoor training facilities for sports like soccer, softball, and baseball.”

A design charrette was held earlier this month when people could share their ideas both visually and vocally and the consultant will utilize those ideas into the preliminary design that could be released to the public in February.

She said the people who attended were able to use maps of the APlex to draw where the pool should go and where other amenities belong. Hannah said C2AE gathered the material and will utilize it in its design process.

“It was fun and very hands-on,” she said. “We had big maps, markers, sticky notes, and people were really engaged. It was nice to see where people were on the same page with things, but also very different in other areas. There was a nice cross-section of people with different interests.”

Hannah said everyone involved believes the APlex, which is adjacent to the Northern Lights Arena, has the potential to be a recreation hub in the region and to become a place for families to get exercise, play, and enjoy concerts and other events.

But, she also knows renovations will come with a large price tag and fundraising, grants, and sponsorships will have to be part of the financing equation for the expansion to become a reality. Hannah said it is likely the project would be done in phases so all of the money wouldn’t need to be acquitted at one time.

There were questions in the survey about how the expansion should be funded, and Hannah said nearly everyone said there needed to be a mix of public and private money.

“Definitely, a preponderance of the people, well over half, acknowledged that there would have to be community support for this facility,” she said. “Most of the people answered that they understood that there would have to be fundraising and financial support from the public. I thought that was positive.”

Hannah said the estimated cost of the expansion project will be included with the design plans when they are released.