People in the Town of Southport could soon get a brand new recreation center. Wednesday night, the town board left the fate of the three and a half million dollar project up to a public referendum. Our Bill Mich has more details on what people will be voting for come April.

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SOUTHPORT, N.Y. -- Carrol Troy instructs a senior exercise class at Southport's current recreation center and is forced to deal with the building's limited capabilities.

"There's a large group of people, young people, the older people, who live here, who use this facility. It's very small and they like to be active. It needs to be updated," Troy said.

The exercise class and everyone else who uses the rec center may soon get their wish. Wednesday night, the Southport Town Board approved the building of a new $3.5 million facility in Chapel Park. The building will have a two story gym, indoor running track and plenty of meeting rooms and community space. Now it comes down to the public approving the project. And town officials want people to know they have been fiscally responsible in the planning stage.

"Over the last eight years, the current board has worked to control costs and we have been able to build up a fund balance with this objective to build a community building and also reduce taxes 50 percent," said Town Supervisor David Sheen.

No new property taxes will be needed to build or maintain the new building. But one councilperson is concerned that residents have not been properly informed on all of the project's details.

"The public also deserves the right to know what the feasibility study came up with. They should be made aware of the financials. I am still asking for a complete financial breakdown," said councilperson Etta Kay Dewey.

The vote on the project will be April 9th at the Southport Town Hall, giving people plenty of time to familiarize themselves with the details on what some have described as one of the biggest things ever to happen to the town.