The Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center in Iowa City, designed by architect Roland Wehner and opened in 1964, has been nominated for the National Register of Historic Places. Mary Bennett, a former aerobic instructor at the center, along with other residents who love the building, began the nomination process in 2022. The building is not only significant architecturally but also plays an important role in the community.
The National Register process involves approval from the State Historic Preservation Office and the State Nomination Review Committee before being reviewed by the National Park Service. Being on the National Register would make the building eligible for state and federal tax credits for rehabilitation.
The building, following the Modern Movement architectural style, symbolizes a shift towards providing more recreational opportunities in the 1960s. It was part of a plan to improve municipal structures in Iowa City and replaced a community building that burned down in 1955.
Despite a proposal in 2022 to close the Robert A. Lee pool as part of a parks and recreation master plan, residents have pushed back, expressing their love for the pool’s central location and lap lanes. The Iowa City Council adopted the master plan but left open the possibility of repurposing the pool in the future if supported by data and community sentiment. The building’s versatility and enduring nature make Bennett confident that it will be placed on the National Register.
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