Groundbreaking Held for Workman Sports and Wellness Complex

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After more than 30 years of trying, a public indoor swimming complex will soon be available to the Effingham community.

Ground was broken Friday afternoon on the Richard E. Workman Sports and Wellness Complex, named in honor of the major benefactor, Dr. Rick Workman. Workman and wife Angie pledged more than $5 million toward the $14.6 million complex. Other donors have provided more than $3 million, and contributions from the City and work by the Effingham Park District to finance the balance of the cost will allow the project to become a reality.

The Complex will house much more than the competitive eight-lane pool. There will also be a recreation and therapy pool, sports courts for basketball and other sports, a fitness center and a walking track. St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital plans to lease some of the facility for therapy services.

Park Board President David McDevitt told the crowd Friday that he can see the facility bringing a variety of athletic competitions to Effingham year-round. It will also be one more major facility along the interstate corridor along with Heartland Dental, Patterson Technology Center, and the Midland States Bank corporate facility designed to make a statement to those traveling past Effingham.

Park Board President Dave McDevitt speaks during the groundbreaking of the Workman Sports and Wellness Complex

Despite the draw to passing motorists and despite the attraction for major sporting events, the group that backed the Complex are most pleased that the facility will be available to the local community. The Park District has acquired Get Fit Family Fitness, which will relocate to the new facility with their operators running the fitness center. A firm known as Rink Management will oversee the daily operation of the Complex as they do similar complexes across the country.

In addtion to McDevitt, other speakers were Dr. Workman as well as local resident Hank Stephens, who has worked for such a facility since the start of such efforts. Admitting he's still a little gunshy until he sees the building in operation, after being close several times in the past, Stephens acknowledged Friday was a great day for the community.

Hank Stephens speaks during the groundbreaking of the Workman Sports and Wellness Complex

For his part, Dr. Workman said the pride he has in the Effingham area and the commitment shown the area when the decision was made to expand the Heartland Dental corporate office rather than relocate elsewhere led to the decision to get behind the effort to establish the Sports and Wellness Center. He noted "this project has died two or three times and they (the steering committee) have resurrected it".

The Workman family, with Dr. Workman's parents (left), Rick Workman, his wife Angie and two of their sons

McDevitt said the dirt should start to fly the first week of October toward a completion sometime in the fall of 2015. He laughed when it was suggested that he already knows what his Christmas present will be in 2015, and didn't disagree that completion and opening of the Complex would be a fine gift.

Dr. Rick and Angie Workman at the groundbreaking for the Workman Sports and Wellness Complex

Among those acknowledged for their contributions in addition to Dr. Workman, McDevitt, Stephens and other members of the Steering Committee were Park District Director Jeff Althoff and members of the Park Board, Joedy Hightower and the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation, Tom Hilgrove of Rink Management, general contractor Poettker Construction, City Council members and City officials who supported the project, and architect Holabird and Root.

Video: Groundbreaking ceremony for the Workman Sports and Wellness Complex (direct link)