By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The City of Great Bend is not giving up on the idea of constructing a paintball course, but location and expenses are forcing city staff to do more research. Another project funded through the “quality of life” sales tax, the paintball course was originally thought to be placed at the Great Bend Expo Complex grounds west of town.
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The .15% sales tax penciled in $5,000 to get the project started. Speaking with
Traveler’s Insurance, the city was informed there would need to be a netting
around the entire course to protect buildings, vehicles and bystanders. The 20-foot
tall netting is estimated at $80,000.
Great Bend City Council member Lindsey
Krom-Craven is also a member of the Quality of Life committee that helped
create a 10-year master plan for the sales tax collection. She emphasized the
importance of creating an activity for older children.
"If we have to replace this with another option and it's not for the older kids...quality of life doesn't mean anything," said Krom-Craven. "I'm tired of everything being for the adults or little kids. It's not solving anything this for this town. We have to find something for that teenage range."
The paintball course was expected to be 100' x 180' with obstacles
maintained for safety, but the City of Great Bend would be covered under
general liability. There were concerns at the Expo Complex, buildings would be shot either in game or getting ready to play, even with the netting.
Paying $80,000 for the netting didn’t set well with the city
council, so Public Works Director Jason Cauley recommended a wooded area owned
by the city that is located a mile south of town by the Arkansas River.
"I've been out there a few times," said Cauley. "I know it's kind of sandy. We've talked about going out and blading it at one point. It might be something to investigate."
Great Bend staff plans to look further into the wooded area and report their
findings to the city council.