WICHITA, Kan., May 07, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rodney Steven II announced via his official Twitter account that Genesis Health Clubs will be the exclusive developer and operator of the Goddard Aquatic Center, a partnership with the City of Goddard, KS. Steven will personally oversee the development and operation of the Natatorium, a 60,000-square-foot aquatic center, four outdoor baseball diamonds and a brand-new Genesis Health Clubs location.
Genesis Health Clubs, now featuring 45 locations in five states, is fresh off of a recent expansion into the state of Colorado. Steven has overseen the financing, remodeling and construction of dozens of Genesis Health Clubs locations and has over 25 years’ experience in the financing, operation and management of health and fitness facilities.
Goddard mayor Jamey Blubaugh lauded the economic benefits to the city. “We can’t wait to break ground on the Goddard Aquatic Center. This will make our city a destination for competitors and families across the country. We estimate it will have an annual economic impact of over $236.5 million per year for the city of Goddard and bring new businesses and 404 new jobs to the area.”
Blubaugh continued, “We had a few false starts with other developers, but things are full speed ahead now. We couldn’t be happier to have Genesis Health Clubs on board. We could not have found a better partner; they will carry this project across the finish line. We are thrilled to partner with Genesis on a project that will benefit not only west Sedgwick County but the Mountain Plains region, making Goddard the region’s premier destination for a family oriented active lifestyle. Rodney Steven has been doing this for decades, and his expertise and attention to detail with these sorts of projects will help make this a world-class facility.”
Steven echoed those sentiments: “I’ve been watching this from a distance for a while now and I couldn’t be happier to finally be involved. It looked like it might not happen for a while there, but once I was able to really dig in and see how we could help, everything came into place. I’m excited for what this will do for the city of Goddard and the state of Kansas. The Goddard Aquatic Center will be truly special.”
The 60,000-square-foot aquatic center will be one of the largest in the state and region and will feature springboard diving capacity and a 50-meter competition pool. There will be a stadium viewing area for spectators with 600 seats, enabling the facility to host large regional and national swimming events.
Also to be included are four competition baseball fields to be used for local and regional softball and baseball practices, games and tournaments. The fields will boast both synthetic and turf surfaces, stadium lighting, covered tiered seating and complete concession and restroom areas. The extra capacity will allow Goddard to host camps and regional and national tournaments, further boosting the profile and economic impact of the facility.
The facility will also include several soccer fields adjacent to the baseball diamonds. A new Genesis Health Clubs location will share a building with the aquatic center and will feature a pre-school and sports camps.
“We did a lot of research on childcare options in West Wichita and Goddard, and there seems to be a big demand. Early childhood education is crucial for kids and so is exercise. Our mission will be to help these kids develop a love of learning and physical activity that will last for the rest of their lives.”
Steven smiled when asked about finally having a health club in Goddard. “I can’t say it hasn’t crossed my mind before. A few gyms have come and gone, but Goddard has never seen a true health club. That’s about to change. Between all the growth in Goddard and west Wichita over the past few years, a huge need for health and fitness options has developed.”
“Besides,” Steven continued, “The City of Goddard is poised to explode. As an entrepreneur, there’s nothing more exciting than a community like this one that has vision, the talent and the exceptional people it takes to seize an opportunity like this. We’ll be proud to call Goddard home.”
About Genesis Health Clubs
Genesis Health Clubs believes innovating, educating and helping people look and feel better than they ever have before. By providing the most well-rounded gym experience in their 45 clubs throughout the Midwest and recently Colorado, Genesis delivers premium amenities, a variety of classes and world-class training to its members. Genesis Health Clubs will continue to grow, change, innovate, add new services and even new locations to give their members what they need to achieve their goals.
Attachments