Park venue touted as money maker
Staff writer
Proponents of an event hall at Marion’s Central Park told the city council Monday that the facility could break even or make money for the city by hosting weddings.
“There’s potential for income for the city, but it’s going to have to happen around wedding events,” said Gerald Wiens, part of a group advancing the project.
Wiens said if the hall attracted one or two weddings a month, it could generate enough money for the city to pay estimated operating costs.
A location in the park would work, he contended.
“The park itself is a beautiful place in a beautiful city that could be attractive” to weddings, he said. County records list 46 marriage licenses granted last year.
“We looked at other possible locations— industrial park, county lake, renovating current city auditorium, and others,” the group’s presentation to the council stated. “All fell short of the potential of an event center located at the very south end of the city park.”
The group is considering a 60-by-124-foot hall located in the park that would accommodate 250 to 300 people. Members say they hope it could be built entirely with grant money and then turned over the city, which would operate the facility. They say it is too early to estimate the cost or where grants might come from.
“The last thing this committee wants to do is saddle the city with any costs,” another proponent, Darin Neufeld, said. “We want to get this built without any taxpayer dollars.”
The group said it was not asking for city council approval yet, but wanted support to apply for two $5,000 grants for planning.
Mayor Michael Powers urged the group to gather more information that would eventually be offered in a public hearing.
“If we have a crown jewel in this city, it’s the park,” Powers said. “The people are very protective of it. I’d like to have a public presentation.”
Neufeld said the group envisioned a hall largely on the area of a poorly maintained basketball court, at the rear of the park. “There are no plans to utilize anything in the park other than what you see [of the] building footprint itself,” he said.
Neufeld presented a plan with a blueprint showing 66 potential vehicle spaces, a few more than at present. The parking area could be paved and parking space lines painted, he said. He calculated that there are 120 spaces on Main, 4th and 5th streets, within 1,000 feet of the proposed events hall.
Proponents say it could be used for other town celebrations, and by groups such as the Kiwanis Club. But weddings costing $3,000 to $4,000 each would be the money-makers for the hall, they contend.
The group presented estimated wedding costs at seven other venues including the Clover Cliff Ranch in Elmdale, Atreeum in Wichita, Flint Hills Boulder Creek in Leon, Son Wray Ranch in north Newton, Emma Creek Barn in McPherson, the White Barn in Cheney and Hidden Valley Downs Ranch in Hutchinson. Prices ranged from $2,500 to more than $9,500.
No opponents spoke at the meeting, but Wiens acknowledged after presenting at the meeting that the proposal might be controversial.
Bob Brookens, a retired attorney, commented on the city’s Facebook page. Brookens said he hoped the park “will remain what it is… just spruced up a bit, here and there.”