Jamestown Community College is moving forward on upgrading its athletic fields.

The Board of Trustees approved Tuesday a resolution to request the inclusion of the construction of Phase I of the proposed New JCC Wellness Complex in the State University of New York’s capital budget request for the 2026-27 executive budget.

The project will be broken down into two phases. Phase I will be for the JCC artificial turf fields and physical education building renovation. Phase II will be for the Jamestown YMCA and shared spaces.

The YMCA says it needs more time to raise the funds necessary for the planned $44 million project. Of the $44 million expected to fund the project, JCC is responsible for $24 million. Of that amount the state will pay 50 percent, Chautauqua County will pay 25 percent and JCC must come up with the remaining 25 percent.

The estimated construction cost of Phase I is $12,069,538.36, JCC officials said. The state has already included the design work associated with the project in its 2025-26 capital budget for community colleges, the resolution stated.

Board Chairman Mark Ward that the addition of the athletic fields can be a huge recruitment tool.

“We think that could help our attendance in the future,” Ward added.

JCC President Dr. Daniel DeMarte said the plan calls for two soccer fields that will be perpendicular to each other. One field will include a baseball field, and the other field will include a softball field. There will also be a facility that will be adjacent to the fields that will store equipment.

DeMarte also noted that officials are beginning to create an identity for the project. The name, DeMarte added, will be The J Wellness Center or The J.

“It ties together the Jamestown area Y and the JCC Jayhawk,” DeMarte said. “So you’re going to begin to hear about the project, described as the J going forward, not the JCC portion and the Y portion separately, but the J project, The J Wellness effort.”

In November 2024, county lawmakers voted in principle to fund $6 million of the project.

Included in the original plans for the expansion of the physical education building were smart classroom space; conference rooms and office suites; two six-lane competition pools to accommodate JCC and YMCA swim teams, and community open swim; a sauna and steam room; two ADA competition gymnasiums to accommodate JCC athletics, YMCA leagues and a community open gym; childcare facilities and services for infants to 5-year-old children; after school and child watch center; a teen center; an intergenerational center; family and universal locker rooms, and public restrooms; shared health and wellness center and group exercise studios; shared outdoor area with designated recreation and comfort spaces including a playground adjacent to the daycare center.