Large Crowd Speaks in Favor of Proposed Big Horn Rec Center

December 5, 2025

News – Sheridan Media

On Tuesday, December 2nd at 9:00 a.m., the Sheridan County Board of County Commissioners heard input from several SCSD#1 community members on the proposed Big Horn Recreation & Early Learning Center. Over 20 people attended the meeting, and around ten people spoke to the board in support of building the center.

One of the reasons that was stressed in favor of the new center was the fact that currently, the pre-school is held in the Big Horn Elementary, but the parking lot is very busy, and safety for the pre-school students is a concern. The new building would alleviate that problem.

Jeremy Smith, SCSD#1 Business manager was the first speaker, he said that thirteen years ago they approached the county commissioners on the subject of a rec center, but the building they were going to use burned down, and now they plan to build a new one.

Several of the commissioners expressed concerns about how the Center would keep continue to operate and if they would later need taxpayer money for operating expenses. He talked about some of the reasons why the recreation center was needed.

He said the Tongue River Valley Community Centers in Ranchester and Dayton are in old school buildings and offer a wide range of activities for area residents. He also addressed the funding concerns.

Mandy Beil, director of operations at Tongue River Valley Community Center, said they do get some money from the mill levy, but even if they didn’t get the mill they could operate. She said when she grew up in the Tongue River Valley, there were no after school programs, recreation centers or anything for seniors. She talked about how busy their center is.

She added that people come over from Big Horn to play pickleball at their facility.

The new center in Big Horn will provide year-round gym space, basketball and pickle ball courts, turf, fitness area, walking track access, and purpose-built early childhood classrooms. It will strengthen their schools, support their kids, and serve the Big Horn community for decades.

Morgan Stalick traveling volleyball coach as well as SCSD#1 Trustee and rec district representative, talked about her reasons for supporting the new center.

Two high school students also approached the commissioners.

The county commissioners, in a three-two vote, approved the Big Horn Recreation & Early Learning Center Conditional Use Permit.

After the vote, Stalick said,

The early childhood education classrooms will be operated by SCSD#1, whose preschool program has outgrown its temporary space inside Big Horn Elementary/Middle School and now serves 64 children with full wait lists.

Kendra Barney, Early Childhood Coordinator for SCSD#1 added,

The recreation center will provide year-round safe, accessible space for youth and school sports, adult fitness, seniors, and community events.

This investment relieves pressure on the school, protects the future of preschool access in Big Horn, and meets a critical need for families who rely on high-quality early learning opportunities to prepare their children for kindergarten and long-term academic success.

The building is adjacent to campus for ease of access, but it is not a school facility. SCSD#1 will continue to own the land that the facility will sit on. The only operational connection is that SCSD#1 will have free access to operate the early childhood classrooms – an arrangement that strengthens long-term preschool access while opening up instructional space for existing K-12 buildings that currently house the pre-school program.

For more information go to https://bighornrec.org/