KAYSVILLE—The Davis School District and Kaysville City are in the planning stages of a partnership to build a new gymnasium for Kaysville Junior High that would be a shared use facility between the school and the city. The gym would be a stand-alone building next to the school and not only expand the gym space but also serve as a recreation center for Kaysville City.

“Kaysville Junior High was on the list of projects under the bond passed in 2022,” said Davis School District Architectural Services Director, Bryan Turner. “It was just going to be a gym. We had no plans of partnering with Kaysville. We talked to the city about being a partner with us for Centennial Junior High but when it came right down to it they said no they couldn’t afford it.”  

At the June 5 City Council meeting the district came back to the city with a presentation about the Kaysville Junior High gym to discuss partnering on the project. 

 “This would give them a way bigger gym and other amenities like basketball, volleyball, track and pickleball,” said Turner. “There will also be a multipurpose room for aerobics, yoga, dance, etc. We’re excited to partner with them.”

This is not the first partnership between the district and a city. “It started with Layton City at Central Davis Junior High,” said Turner. “It’s a stand-alone building with a gigantic gym and is being used for parks and recreation. It’s been very successful. We have two others in Layton, Shoreline Junior High and Legacy Junior High that are part of the school. We also have one in Clearfield and one in West Point that is under construction.”

There is not a clean way to attach a building to Kaysville Junior, he said. “There’s no way to set up truck access for food deliveries, etc. The other side won’t work either. Yes it means the kids have to walk outside to get to it but they’re not the only school to do that.”

The district and city will split the cost on the new building which allows for a much larger gymnasium that benefits both the school and Kaysville. “The cost of the project is $22 million,” he said. “The maximum the city will pay is $10.5 million, but it will probably be less. The district will pay more because we’ll have the P.E. program, locker rooms, etc. for school sports.”

Other spaces will be split 50/50, he said. “There will be shared areas like the multipurpose room and offices. Layton didn’t use the running track so the district paid for all of that. There are loose plans but we will meet in about a week to go over a cost estimate. We’ll have Kaysville Parks and Rec at the meetings in the beginning to get their input.”

The facility will sit between Columbia Elementary and Kaysville Junior High, Turner said. “It’s all district property. The city uses it for its soccer program. It will be multi-use. We’ll probably have to add parking too.”

Turner said the district will use the facility from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. “There will be about a half hour transition period and the city can go in at 5:30 p.m. on. If the city has supervision they could potentially come in early before school starts. That will all be worked out.”

“I’m especially thrilled to share that Kaysville City is joining forces with the Davis School District to build and bring Kaysville Recreation Center to our community on the campus of Kaysville Junior High,” said Kaysville Mayor Tamara Tran. “This project is the result of years of planning, fostering strong relationships with the district, engaging city staff and listening to community feedback.”

This partnership is a huge win for the city’s recreation programs, she said. “Whether you’re a child, an adult, a senior or anywhere in between, this center will have something for everyone. By sharing the costs with the school district, we’re making this happen responsibly while creating a space that brings us all together.”

Imagine courts for volleyball, basketball, fitness classes like yoga, high-energy cardio classes, sports training and a year-round running/walking indoor track, said Tran. “I’m especially excited about that. We could even add workout equipment to make it even better.”

It’s going to be a vibrant hub where the whole Kaysville family can stay active and connected, she said. “I’m so grateful to the Davis School District for partnering with us on this and I’m thankful for the support of our City Council to make Kaysville better than we found it. Together we’re building our community for both our schools and neighborhoods.”