On June 11, 2020 members of the Sedalia community gathered around the former Jennie Jaynes Stadium – breaking ground for the highly-anticipated Heckart Community Center. 

Less than two years later, Sedalia Parks and Recreation has announced it is scheduled to host a grand opening ceremony for the building this month.

According to park officials the grand opening ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Friday, March 18; the ribbon-cutting ceremony will follow at approximately 10:45 a.m.; and the building will open for fun festivities at 11 a.m.

Officials say the facility is multi-purpose and includes an indoor aquatic facility, community center rooms, convention space, basketball/volleyball/pickleball courts, a fitness area, party rooms, child watch area, an indoor playground and homes the Sedalia Senior Center.

The project is funded by through the additional one-eighth of a cent sales tax, as well as the removal of the sunset for the capital-improvement tax, approved by voters in August 2019.