Dundee: Indoor sports complex planned

2/8/2006

DUNDEE - An indoor sports complex designed to house field sports, a gym, and possibly a physical rehab center is planned to give Dundee an athletic boost in about a year.

Wayne and Lori Pavlika, who run Wayne Pavlika Remodeling Inc., are refining the plan for the complex, which is expected to have about 60,000 square feet. It will be the first of its kind in the area, said Dave Faber, Dundee's director of engineering.

"We'd welcome it to town," Mr. Faber said. "The next closest sports complex like this is in Maumee, Ohio."

Why now?

"I'm president of our soccer club, and I used to coach football, baseball, and girls' softball," Mr. Pavlika said. "I've got five children and all of them play multiple sports. I thought, why not us?"

The complex will sport four basketball courts, which will convert to volleyball courts, and a mezzanine/second floor for baseball, with batting cages, and lacrosse, Mr. Pavlika said.

He would also like to see the complex contain a fitness center with specialized training for athletes, and a rehab center to be run by a local health system, but both of those deals have yet to be done.

The 10-acre site will also feature outdoor fields, which could be used for summer camps or tournaments.

"We're going to do what ever it takes to fill the place and make it work," Mr. Pavlika said.

The complex, which will be next to Dundee High School, has a projected price tag of between $3.1 million and $4 million.

It does not have public money behind it.

"We're going to try to fund this all on our own," Mr. Pavlika said. "We're thrill seekers."

Still, "we're hoping to partner with Dundee High School," he added.

"We just talked to them. We want to make an impact on the community."

The project has been in the works for about two years, and is expected to be completed next January. Mr. Pavlika's firm will build it.

"We've never built a project of this size," he said. "I'm pretty excited."

With a new subdivision set to go in nearby, Mr. Pavlika feels good about the odds that his gamble will pay off. "It's perfect for us, " he commented

His five children, who range in age from 10 to 16, are thrilled with the idea. he said.

"They can't wait. They each tell me who's going to do what. One wants to run all the maintenance."

Even more, they look forward to the opportunities it will create. So does Mr. Faber.

"It gives stuff for people to do in town," he said.

Contact Vanessa Winans at:

vwinans@theblade.com

or 419-724-6168.