The proposed Upper St. Clair community recreation center, to be built in the township's 480-acre Boyce Mayview Park, will be the site's "crowning jewel."

That's how township Commissioner Ched Mertz described the two-story, 78,000-square-foot center during a Sept. 6 meeting attended by about 300 people. If the building gets the go-ahead, it could open late in 2009 on a site that will include walking trails, new athletic fields and the Regional Environmental Education Center.

The community center would feature indoor and outdoor pools, a multipurpose room, two gymnasiums, a senior/teen lounge, a fitness center and a one-eighth mile walking/jogging track. It comes with an estimated $22.5 million price tag, which would be the township's biggest project ever.

Because of the scope of the project, the commissioners, all of whom support a recreation center, decided to hold a presentation at the high school theater for what can be a tough crowd, the bill-paying public.

Those who spoke during the three-hour meeting largely supported the plan, despite some concern about the financial impact on lower- and fixed-income residents, and opening the facility to nonresidents.

The next special meeting on the project will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the commissioners meeting room. The board will vote on whether to place the issue of building a recreation center on the November ballot as a referendum.

No decision has been made on membership fees, or on what taxes would have to be raised to pay for the project.

A study by consultant Ballard King concluded that, once the building is built, all operational costs could be covered by a combination of revenue streams, such memberships, program fees, rentals and concessions.

Because the Boyce Mayview property was acquired from the county and the state, the facility has to be open to nonresidents. But they will pay more than residents in fees and taxes.

Mr. Mertz said the project cost could decrease to between $15 million and $16 million, depending on the success of fund-raising and sale of naming rights.

Among the roughly 30 people who spoke during the public comment period was Beatrice Browand, who said the recreation center "will add a valuable asset to a great community."

Mrs. Browand said she favored a bigger and more expensive facility as it will serve all residents, as opposed to the millions of dollars spent on school renovations, which, she said, serve only some.

Noting that the township has a "beautiful fire station" and a pending $4 million athletic fields complex, she asked, "Why are we trying to shortcut this project, which will serve everyone?''

"It should be for our children," said Heidi Cohen, who wants it to be affordable for all the community, including single parents, such as she.

Her son, Sammy Furlong, 15, said he favored adding a skate park to the center.

Jean Brock expressed concern about the tax burden on seniors who are longtime residents and who might not use the facility.

Others touted the benefits of increased property values, having a family-oriented place to socialize and providing an alternative for youngsters, who could go to the center rather than hang out at malls.

Some people told the board to proceed without a referendum as it will delay project development.

Those who preferred not to speak publicly completed a questionnaire distributed at the meeting. It included 18 questions, such as, "Do you think a range of $300 to $600 for an annual family membership is a reasonable cost to belong to the facility?" The responses in the 113 surveys will be posted on the township Web site this week.

Douglas L. Shuck, of WTW Architects, of Pittsburgh, said the recreation center would be visible from the entry on Mayview Road, the only entry point for vehicles, as the existing grade climbs 40 feet to the spot where the center will be.

WTW Architects and Larsen Architects, of Cleveland, were the design team for the building, whose exterior will consist primarily of stone and brick in earth-tone colors.

A glass wall between the stone piers will provide views of the indoor aquatics center, lobby, some rooms and the track area.

The center's first floor will consist of an indoor pool, locker rooms, party and meeting rooms, the food service operation, a senior/teen lounge, fitness rooms, a community room that can be subdivided, kitchens, two gymnasiums that can be subdivided, a central seating area and administrative offices.

The second floor will contain a fitness area with exercise equipment and a one-eighth-mile walking/jogging track.

The indoor and outdoor pools will contain lap lanes, slides and sprays.

The outdoor pool would be built during the first phase of the project and possibly be ready to use by the end of next summer.

About 567 parking spaces will be available in four lots serving the center and nearby ball fields, with more parking planned.

The concept of a community center is fully supported by the 1985 and 2005 township comprehensive plans and the Boyce Mayview master plan.

During the past two years, public discussions of the matter have taken place at the commissioners' public meetings.

In June 2005, the board appointed an ad hoc committee of representatives of more than 20 community organizations to study and make recommendations regarding a recreation center.

Over the past summer, a core group of the ad hoc committee, commissioners, township staff and architects met weekly to develop the current recommendation.

Commissioner Karen McElhinny said a big issue was whether the facility would be membership-driven or service-oriented. The group chose the latter to make it affordable for all.

The complete recreation center concept design report is available for download at www.twpusc.org/rec/communitycenter/conceptdesign/index.html .

Those wishing to comment on the plan may pick up a questionnaire at the municipal center or library, or download it from the township Web site www.twpusc.org.