By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN

dobrien@dailynews.net

More than 35 years ago, some futuristic thinking by college students resulted in a "yes" vote that helped build a spacious multi-use facility across the creek from the main campus of Fort Hays State University.

Now, some local residents are hoping adults will have a similar vision -- for another multi-sport complex, across the highway from FHSU's Gross Memorial Coliseum.

That complex, which was completed in 1973 and features spacious Gross Memorial Coliseum, was built with the help of an increase in student fees, voted in by students themselves several years before.

Events at the coliseum and adjoining Cunningham Hall have brought hundreds of thousands of people to Hays -- and a big boost to the local economy -- ever since.

A committee promoting an outdoor-sports complex in Hays is hoping for more of the same, only this time from adult voters.

The sports complex committee last month had asked the city commission to vote to include the sales tax question on the November ballot.

The commission suggested instead the committee start a petition, which it did promptly.

In order to have a half-cent sales tax for the sports complex on the Nov. 4 ballot, the committee must obtain at least 10 percent of the number of registered voters in Hays.

That number is about 1,250 signatures, but the committee's goal is 4,000.

"We're not taking anything for granted," said Bryce Young, one of the committee members, "because you're not certain that every signature is someone who is registered to vote in Hays."

"Plus," he added, "getting more signatures is an opportunity to educate more people about (need for) the complex."

More information about the complex, including a conceptual design, can be found on the Web at www.HaysSportsComplex.com.

In short, the complex would feature up to eight baseball/softball fields, four soccer fields and four football fields. The cost is projected at $8 million. The half-cent sales tax for four years, with a sunset clause, would fund the project. Any extra money generated would be set aside for maintenance of the complex.

The complex, which would be located at the intersection of the U.S. Highway 183 bypass and Old U.S. Highway 40, would be built in partnership with FHSU.

A soccer stadium for the university, which would be on Fort Hays land, is scheduled to be constructed by the fall of 2010 and would be part of the complex.

The Fort Hays portion of the project would not be part of the half-cent sales tax amount. However, the two entities would share parking and infrastructure costs.

Besides giving local and area residents more access to facilities, the committee would hope to draw from northwest Kansas and all of western Kansas.

"If you have a nice facility, that will help draw young teams," Young said.

"When we travel (to sporting events), we hardly ever see a team west of Hays, Kansas," added Young, the father of four youngsters ages 6 to 14. "This would give them an opportunity to be able to participate in a lot of activities they otherwise would have to drive several hours to."

The committee has had multiple speaking engagements and petition signing events throughout the community the past two weeks, including one scheduled for tonight's season opener of the Fort Hays football team.

Plans are under way for more educational opportunities, once the committee knows the sales tax question is put on the ballot. And an economic impact study is in process with FHSU's Docking Institute of Public Affairs.

First things, first, though.

There will be a petition signing table at tonight's Fort Hays game at Lewis Field Stadium.

Committee members also plan to have an information booth at Friday's Maroon and Gold Classic for Hays High School at Lewis Field and at Saturday's Blue and White Scrimmage at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School.

And there are permanent signing locations at the Hays Recreation Center, 1105 Canterbury, and the Hays Welcome Center at 27th and Vine.

Deadline for the petition is Tuesday.

Roger Bixenman, superintendent of the Hays Recreation Commission and also a member of the sports complex committee, has been at the HRC since 1992. He said that while there often is talk of building a sports complex of some type, this appears to be the best opportunity for several reasons.

"This has been talked about for a lot of years," Bixenman said. "The window of opportunity to have land close to effluent water hasn't always been there; (available) land has been an issue."

This time, partnering with Fort Hays looks to be the ideal setup, he said.

"The land is right this time. The partnership with all entities involved are great," he added, "and I think we've gone about it the right way."