GODFREY - The Village of Godfrey’s Recreation Center Committee will hold a public meeting at 8 a.m. Thursday, June 18, 2026, at Village Hall, as the village continues a feasibility study on a possible recreation and community center.
The meeting comes as village officials seek more public input and data on whether residents would use such a facility and what type of center might best fit the community.
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“You learn a lot from these committee meetings. That is the reason we are having them,” Village of Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick said. “We are hoping the architectural firm in the project will get a pulse of the community and see what the community is looking for in the project. It is a big undertaking, and it is a big step for the community. We want to make sure we are building a rec center that the community wants.”
Mayor McCormick said village leaders are also focused on the project’s financial impact.
“My biggest thing about it is we don’t want to put Godfrey in debt and have to pay for it without raising taxes, or causing an additional financial strain on the village of Godfrey,” he said.
The committee was established by the mayor and the Board of Trustees and is chaired by Trustee Gerard Fischer. It has been meeting regularly since February 2026.
McCormick said the feasibility study is intended to provide quantitative data on potential resident use and the type of recreation or community center that might be developed. McCormick said its demographic and psychographic makeup reflects a more mature population, and that planning for the future includes creating an environment that appeals to both current residents and younger people.
McCormick said initial feedback from residents across age groups shows interest in adding a recreation or community center to Godfrey’s park and recreation assets.
As part of its comprehensive plan, the village commissioned what it described as an inclusive feasibility study to address those questions. During the second quarter of this year, the committee reviewed proposals from architectural firms for feasibility work and preliminary design. In May 2026, the committee recommended AAIC Design and Construction, and the Board of Trustees approved the company to lead the project.
AAIC has worked on several projects in Godfrey, including Lewis and Clark Community College’s Templin Nursing Building, Hatheway Hall, and the Riverbend Arena.
The Village of Godfrey said the feasibility study is scheduled to continue through the summer and fall. Planned phases include concept planning and programming, site consideration, preliminary mechanical planning, preliminary site evaluation, and landscaping design.
Later phases include development of a facility master plan, evaluation and design of a selected site, master landscaping design, schematic design of the facility, public outreach and financing options, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration, if appropriate.
Younger residents have also weighed in on the discussion. A group of 14 younger adult Godfrey residents met on March 30, 2026, at Bakers and Hale for a “Young Godfrey Residents” focus group on how the village could become more inviting and attractive to families in the family-raising stages.
The idea of a recreation center generated significant interest and conversation. Many participants said they travel to other communities to use their recreation centers. The group said a multi-purpose center would be most valuable and also identified the importance of accommodations for league play.
The Village of Godfrey said participants gave high ratings to features, including indoor winter options such as rock climbing, yoga, event space, and accommodations for children’s birthday parties.
Committee meetings are open to the public.
