Scott Bell, Wasilla’s Recreation Services Director, told the City Council on Nov. 10 that staff completed a series of maintenance and improvement projects at the Menard Center, including a turf replacement, lighting and painting work, and mechanical repairs.

“Very excited again to announce the replacement of our turf field,” Bell said, describing the turf project as originally budgeted at approximately $318,000; he added that an additional ~$32,000 contingency was authorized but ultimately not needed when crews found the base in good condition. Bell told council the bulk of beautification work — painting throughout the facility and replacements such as bleacher handrails — was done in-house to limit costs.

Bell listed maintenance expenses and near‑term investments: a boiler repair estimated at $8,400, replacement of a kitchen rooftop heat exchanger at roughly $7,400, replacement of pressure‑relief valves on the ice plant (routine five‑year work), a new ADA bottle‑fill drinking fountain, and upgrades to LED track lighting (about $2,500 in fixtures installed in‑house). He also said the facility’s LiveBarn camera was upgraded to a 4K system and that roughly 20,000 people have used the facility this year.

Council members asked how the turf and other projects were funded. Bell said the turf was part of the capital improvement plan, that contingencies were covered through prior building‑replacement capital and that the remaining balances will be reconciled with finance. “Everything’s absorbed in budget,” Bell said when asked if maintenance items were within existing appropriations.

Members also raised ADA access questions about a recently installed crosswalk; Bell said the curb work had been a targeted repair with follow‑up concrete and ramp work planned for next summer and that staff are evaluating adding more handicap parking on the building’s backside during the next parking‑lot phase.

The presentation also outlined operational improvements — new mats for seating areas, added electrical outlets in the lobby, upgraded projector and meeting room tables, and new maintenance items on order including a spray cart and bench replacements — and previewed upcoming RFPs for parking‑lot design and sound‑system upgrades.

The council thanked Bell and other staff for the work and for completing projects mostly within previously approved budgets. The report concluded with an invitation to the public to visit and see the changes at the Menard Center.