Over the past several weeks, many residents have become aware of the town of Madawaska’s proposal to relocate the Madawaska Community Fitness Center from the Madawaska Middle/High School to the former Kmart building. The current fitness center space would then be converted into a municipally operated child care center
Before anything else, I want to make one thing clear: this is not an argument against child care or against investing in a new or improved community gym.
Our community needs quality child care. Families deserve affordable, dependable options, and expanding those services is worthwhile. Likewise, our community deserves a modern fitness center that promotes health, wellness and recreation for residents of all ages
My concern is not the destination. It is the path being taken to get there
What troubles me most is that the catalyst for creating a new gym was not an identified need for a new fitness facility. The catalyst was the desire to create a child care center, and the gym became the piece that had to move to make that happen. The proposal doesn’t appear to ask, “How can we build the best gym for our community?” It asks, “Where can we move the gym so we can use its current space for child care?”
Those are two very different approaches
The current fitness center is a successful, well-used community asset operating in a town-owned facility. Under this proposal, the town would move that asset into a building it does not own and instead lease
That raises important questions: What are the long-term costs of leasing the former Kmart building? What happens if lease terms change or the property is sold? How much will renovations cost before the unfinished building is suitable for a fitness center? What will ongoing maintenance, utilities, and operating expenses be? Will membership fees increase?
These are questions taxpayers deserve to have answered before decisions are made
Unfortunately, the public has not been presented with a detailed financial plan. Saying the projects will be “self-sustaining” through future revenue, sponsors or donations is not a substitute for a comprehensive budget and long-term financial analysis
There are also practical questions. Can the proposed space accommodate everything the current fitness center offers? Will there be enough room for existing equipment, future expansion, group fitness, and other amenities? Will members lose equipment or services because of space limitations? What heating, cooling, and building improvements will be required? Equally important, why was relocating the gym selected over other options?
If child care is the priority — and I believe most people agree it should be addressed — what other town-owned buildings or properties were considered? Was renovating another municipal facility considered? Was constructing new space considered? The public deserves to understand why this became the preferred solution
This issue is not about choosing between child care and fitness. A healthy community should be able to support both
It’s like saying we need more parking, so let’s tear down the library. The need for parking may be real, but that doesn’t automatically make sacrificing another valuable community re
Or imagine a family that needs another bedroom. Instead of considering an addition or another available room, they turn the kitchen into a bedroom. They’ve addressed one need, but sacrificed something else the family depends on every day
That is the concern here. Child care is a legitimate and important community need. The question is whether relocating a successful community fitness center is the best way to accomplish that goal when other alternatives may exist
These two projects appear unnecessarily tethered, creating the impression that one community asset must be displaced to create another. I believe Madawaska can strengthen child care while also preserving — and ideally improving — our community fitness center without asking residents to accept unnecessary financial uncertainty or reduced services
Finally, the town has missed an opportunity to engage the public earlier and more effectively. Many residents learned about this proposal only after plans were well underway. Better communication and transparency would have allowed the community to participate before momentum built behind a single proposal
As residents and taxpayers, we should expect thoughtful planning, fiscal transparency and meaningful public engagement before major decisions involving public facilities are made. This is not about resisting change. It’s about making sure the right change is made for the right reasons
I encourage every resident — whether you use the fitness center or not — to learn about the proposal, ask questions, attend public meetings and make your voice heard. Regardless of where you stand, this decision will shape our community for years to come and deserves careful consideration
John Pelkey is a concerned Madawaska Community Fitness Center member
