It has been the subject of a big community survey, construction cost volatility and lots of discussion, but Fishers officially announced plans for a new 105,000-squre-foot Community Center Tuesday morning.  The $60 million facility will contain most of what citizens said they wanted, including indoor walking/running trails and an indoor aquatic center.  The location will be at 121st Street and Hoosier Road in an area known as “Johnson Farms.”

“As we strive to build a culture of health in our community, a vital component of this is creating a place where our community can come together to care for their overall wellbeing,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in a city news release. “With this new community asset, we not only offer a place for health, fitness, and recreation, but also a place to gather and socialize with the friends, family, and neighbors, which we know is equally important in fostering a strong quality of life in our community.”

Art Johnson now owns the property where the Community Center will be constructed.

“My family has been part of this community for generations, and I am excited to be a part of Fishers’ legacy and have our land serve as a central spot in the community for gathering and recreation for years to come,” said Johnson.

The new community center was designed based on input from residents. In 2021, a steering committee chaired by Fishers City Councilor Todd Zimmerman (At-Large) was formed to identify and prioritize community needs and how they could be served by an indoor facility. Nearly 3,500 residents completed a survey to share the amenities they most desired in this facility. Top items like a dog park, indoor playground, indoor walking/running track, and aquatics facility were included in the design, while other items like fine arts classes and performing arts were included in the new City Hall & Arts Center currently under construction in the downtown Nickel Plate District.

“What I hope for residents to get out of this center is a sense of place and community,” said Councilor Zimmerman. “More than the sports or athletics of it, this is a place to bring our residents together. It’s also a place that is welcoming to all, from our neighbors in the surrounding communities to out of town visitors exploring Fishers for the first time.”

The Center will offer both memberships and day passes with discounts for Fishers residents, many amenities will be accessible for free to both residents and non-residents, including a large indoor playground, indoor track for walking and running, and café.

The main level of the center will include a 5,300-square-foot indoor playground; aquatics facility with a lap pool and zero-depth entry warm water pool with a waterslide and play features; an 18,600-square-foot gymnasium featuring three basketball courts, which can also be converted into volleyball and pickleball courts; clinical rooms and offices for the Fishers Health Department; childcare facility; multipurpose rooms; public gathering spaces; a café, and more. The second level will feature a large fitness and wellness center, including a spin studio and group exercise rooms, along with an indoor track for walking and running. A roof terrace to host outdoor exercise and gatherings is planned for future phases.

Through collaboration with community stakeholders like the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability, accessibility features such as adult companion care rooms with adult changing tables, a zero-depth entry pool, water wheelchair, and accessible fitness equipment were added to the facility. The community center will also house Outside the Box’s adult day program to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Center is estimated to cost $60 million and will be paid for through city-issued bonds following a build-operate-transfer agreement that is slated to end in 2026. City leadership does not anticipate the Fishers City Tax rate to increase as a result of financing this project.

The project resolution will be presented to the Fishers Finance Committee on June 14 and the Fishers City Council on June 19 for approval.

The project is anticipated to break ground this fall and open in spring 2025.

Artist rendering depicting part of the Community Center interior