Six years after killing idea, Prairie Village council looking again at prospect of partnership for new community center

In 2013, after years of preliminary investigation, Prairie Village officials scuttled the idea of moving ahead with a project that would bring a new community center and natatorium to the grounds near city hall, citing high costs and lack of serious commitment from potential partners.

Six years later, the city council thinks it’s time to give the idea a fresh look. Mayor Eric Mikkelson on Monday reported that he and a small group of city officials had held two preliminary meetings in recent weeks with representatives of the YMCA of Greater Kansas City to discuss the possibility of partnering on a project to bring a modern community center and indoor pool to Prairie Village. The Paul Henson YMCA on 79th Street adjacent to Harmon Park has fallen into disrepair, and YMCA leaders are interested in working with the city on a facility to replace it, City Administrator Wes Jordan told the council.