By John Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Residents want indoor competitive swimming and exercise pools, gyms, a fitness center, weight room, racquetball and tennis courts, jogging track, meeting rooms, day care and other facilities in the proposed community and recreation center.

But they won't get anything at all if the $20 million to $30 million facility cannot be self-supporting.

"We will not build this until we're convinced we can afford it," pledged Catherine Stoker, chosen trustees president Tuesday night.

Trustees will decide in April whether to build the center, considered the centerpiece of the Union Centre development. The tentative site is south of West Chester Road, between Lakota West High School and the new Towne Centre shopping development.

Since mid-December, two companies have been surveying township residents about their needs for the center, which would be constructed with tax revenues from Union Centre businesses.

Residents also say they want meeting rooms, space for senior citizens, classrooms, a "messy art room" and game room, said Chris Chivetta, president of Hastings & Chivetta Architects in St. Louis.

Preliminary design sketches will be shown to more focus groups on Feb. 18.

"This whole process is to get a consensus of what this community needs, and what it can afford, which will make your decision as trustee easier," trustees were told by Craig Rambo, president of McGill Smith Punshon Inc. architects.

Retired engineer Jim Golden of Pisgah told trustees they don't need more information to make a decision. They should shelve the costly project immediately, he said.

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com