This concept art from the city of Medford shows a planned food cart pod at the Rogue X complex. [Facebook photo]
Medford parks officials are looking to attract food carts to the giant new aquatics center being built in Wes Howard Memorial Park
Medford Parks and Recreation is exploring plans to attract food carts to Rogue X, the aquatic and activities center being built at Wes Howard Memorial Park in west Medford.
Julian Cordle, a Medford Parks and Recreation Commission member, posted on social media this week that the planned food cart pod would serve Rogue X in lieu of a snack bar inside the building.
“Last night, the commission saw and approved a plan for a dedicated food truck area that we hope will serve the needs of the patrons of the facility and nearby community,” Cordle posted on Facebook Sept. 28.
The food cart pod will feature five carts, each expected to have access to city-provided seating, dedicated power and water, as well as on-site garbage bins, according to the post.
Though still a steel skeleton at the corner of Ross Lane and Rossanley Drive, Rogue X is expected to open its doors sometime in 2023. The activities and aquatic center is set to be the city of Medford’s most expensive project in recent memory.
Formally titled the The Rogue Credit Union Community Complex, commonly called Rogue X, the complex is expected to cost $75,781,036.
That price tag includes construction, architectural expertise, engineering and other expenses for the 160,000-square-foot structure.
Once completed, Rogue X will feature two indoor pools, a giant events center and two splash pads — one indoors and one outdoors. The recreational pool will have a shallow entry for little ones, as well as an artificial river and a vortex. On one side will be a three-lane, 25-yard lap pool.
Nearby, two tubular slides — one 164 feet long, the other 176 feet in length — are planned along with an outdoor splash pad similar in size to the one at Hawthorne Park.
In hopes of attracting regional swim meets, water polo competitions and other events, a 13-lane competition pool will be built inside an adjacent building. Lockers and other facilities will be constructed next to the pools.
Reach Mail Tribune reporter Morgan Rothborne at mrothborne@rosebudmedia.com or 541-776-4487. Follow her on Twitter @MRothborne.