QPlex design paused for more research

QUINCY — Quincy Valley Parks and Recreation commissioners have reconsidered the original design of the fieldhouse in Lauzier Park, known as the QPlex. Pat Haley, parks and recreation executive director and Quincy city administrator, told the Quincy City Council that the reconsideration of the design started with a conversation about facility operations. 

“It quickly became evident that it was going to be a big organization, and the simple structure that we had in mind wasn’t going to be suitable,” Haley said.  

District officials contacted a consultant who eventually helped conduct a feasibility study. 

“It was asked, would it be advisable to put a halt on the existing design that we had until after we got a better market overview of the demand for our facility,” Haley said.  

The feasibility study concluded the proposed design wouldn’t maximize the available opportunity in the region. The original design includes one regulation football field that’s also suitable for soccer and two indoor courts that could be reconfigured for multiple sports. The study concluded that adding two more indoor courts would attract tournaments in multiple sports from throughout the region. 

“The second half of that study is going to evaluate the revenue generation of this facility and what it’s going to cost to operate,” Haley said.  

Because it’s a taxing district, the parks and rec district is generating a separate stream of revenue, which will fund paying back any construction bonds and facility operations. 

“The revenue that is generated is adding back to the bottom line,” he said, allowing the district to accelerate debt repayment and provide funding for other projects.  

The building had a fabric exterior in the original design, but the study recommended a steel structure instead, Haley said. For maximum use, the ceiling on the football field would have to be higher than the indoor courts, he said, and building that would be easier with a steel building. 

“We are on schedule, or at least moving forward with the design, in (2025), and we’ll move forward with construction in 2026.  

Commission chair Andrew Royer said the feasibility study helped commissioners identify some of the opportunities that might have been missed.

“Something that’s going to get used more than what we were originally looking at, I think,” Royer said. 

In answer to a question from council member Dave Dormaier, Haley said the design will be big enough to accommodate attendees.  

Parks and rec commissioner Dylan Kling said he thought slowing down the project would improve it in the end. 

“We’re all go-getters here,” Kling said. “We all want to get this project done, but at the same time, we want to do it right, and do it right once. Because this is going to be part of the community for a long time.” 

The discussions with the consultant have been “eye-opening,” Kling said.  

Royer said that people who may be thinking about investing in Quincy have been paying attention. 

“There have been community and regional business members showing up to the meetings, really watching what’s going on as they consider future investment.” 

    The design for Quincy's QPlex project has been put on hold as the needs of the facility and the use it is intended for have evolved.