Study may lead to redesign of Quincy fieldhouse project
The preliminary design of the fieldhouse in Quincy, in white, may be reviewed following the conclusions of a feasibility study.
SOURCE: CITY OF QUINCY
QUINCY — Quincy Valley Regional Parks District officials may have to review the preliminary design following a feasibility study for the Quincy fieldhouse, called the Q-Plex, presented to commissioners Tuesday. Parks District Executive Director Pat Haley said the original design might not be able to accomplish the original objective.
“One (turf) field inside isn’t enough to draw people,” Haley said. “Whatever it is, it has to be multiple. If you’re going to have soccer tournaments come to your town, you have to have multiple fields. Just breaking the existing field into four smaller ones isn’t enough to bring people to town for a tournament.”
While multiple smaller fields might attract youth activities, it won’t attract adult tournaments.
“The recommendation from the feasibility study is to redesign, not necessarily change the components, but redesign the facility to be more suitable to type of use it’s going to receive,” Haley said.
The parks district was approved by voters in the Quincy area in 2023, and one of the proposed projects is the Q-Plex. It’s projected to be about 143,000 square feet, with a turf field and indoor courts. Haley said one of the purposes of the proposed building would be hosting tournaments that would bring people from out of town.
While people won’t schedule tournaments on a smaller-than-regulation turf field, he said, there are other options.
“(The study) did provide a layout of a facility that is somewhat similar to what we have. But instead of having one big field and two (hardwood) courts, it has one big field and four courts,” Haley said.
The courts could be configured for basketball, volleyball, wrestling or other sports, he said, and the study determined it would be an attractive tournament venue in that situation.
What that would mean for the design is still being studied.
“We’re checking to make sure it fits in our original footprint,” he said.
The original design called for a steel frame covered with a membrane, but the feasibility study recommended using steel for the walls, Haley said.
A more detailed presentation on the potential economic impact is scheduled for next month, he said.
“We’re checking to make sure (the recommended design) fits in the original footprint,” Haley said.