Proposed El Dorado arena at center of controversy

(EL DORADO, Kan.) — The El Dorado Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met Wednesday night to discuss plans for a new arena.

The meeting was held at City Hall. The public came to weigh in on the proposed arena. Some people are upset because the arena will be located behind McDonald Stadium. Its construction would force the reloction of several ballfields.

Parents say the ballfields are important because they have been a part of El Dorado for more than a decade. They think its important that kids are able to walk or ride their bikes to the fields. The ball diamonds could be relocated to an area of El Dorado Lake. Parents say that's too far for kids to safely go alone. A petition is going around for people against the location of the arena to sign.

Lindsay Baines is working on promoting the arena. She says it's a good location because of how close it is to downtown and the existing 4-H Building. She's confident that between events, farmers markets and other attractions, the arena could make money nearly year round. It would cost about 1.25 million dollars. About half of it would be funded through donations.

It would seat about 15-hundred people. The goal is to have it built by summer 2013.

The Board will not make a decision, but will make a recommendation to the City Commission on whether or not to move the ballfields.