BURLEY — A Burley man has set up a nonprofit foundation and is in the process of purchasing 30 acres to build an aquatic and recreation center in Burley.

“Ask anyone who lives here what is needed and they’ll say youth activities,” said Jeff Hawker, in a meeting with the Burley City Council Nov. 3. Hawker has established a foundation called the American Youth Activities Facilities Foundation and plans to pursue grants and private donations to build an aquatic and recreation center southwest of Interstate 84 Exit 208.

“Everyone I’ve talked with sees the passion and sees the need,” Hawker said Friday during an interview at the site.

Hawker said he is going to call upon the Oregon Trail Recreation District in Burley for help and encourage Minidoka County to establish a recreation district as well.

Hawker said the project is still in its infancy. The parcel of land at 700 W. 400 S. in Minidoka County is currently under contract and the foundation has until July 2010 to pay it off. He said the 501(c)3 tax-exempt foundation does not have a paid executive director, or paid accountants, legal advice or an advisory board. Although, he said, at some point there may be a need for a paid executive director.

Hawker said representatives from the ALSAM Foundation — Sam and Aline Skaggs’ charitable organization that helped fund the new Skaggs Event Center at Burley High School — has agreed to be on the advisory committee, although ALSAM is not donating to the project.

Hawker said the foundation will only build the facility, leaving other groups to handle its maintenance and operation.

“Great things are accomplished by doing things you’re not supposed to be able to do,” said Burley City Councilman Denny Curtis. “But I don’t know what our role is in it.”

GuideStar, an organization that gathers and publishes information on nonprofit organizations says that AYAFF received its nonprofit tax status in 2009. Because it was established in June there are no financial records on file yet.

A Jeff Hawker also filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 1996 as an additional debtor in a joint claim filed by Rachel Hawker.

For more information on the project call Hawker at 208-260-0260.

Laurie Welch may be reached at lwelch@magicvalley.com or 208-677-8767.