LENEXA, Kan. (KCTV) – An indoor sports training and conditioning facility is under construction to help athletes pursue their goals while honoring an 18-year-old man who died of an accidental overdose.

Olivia Piotrowski died in 2021 of an accidental fentanyl overdose. She would have turned 21 today, living a full life with her family. She was an athlete at Shawnee Mission East High School, running for the cross country and track teams. She was a friend to many and gone too soon.

Her father, Andrew Piotrowski, had been trying to find ways to honor her and remind the community of what happened to his daughter for three years, but nothing came of it. Until October, when the Lenexa City Council approved its plans to build what will be known as the “Unlimited Performance KC.”

“As a father you never want your child to be forgotten when you lose them and it’s something I live with every day and I really wanted a place where we could keep their memory alive,” he said.

The construction project started now is also for Andrew’s son Axel, who is now 10 years old. He now plays competitive hockey and lacrosse.

“To be able to start at a young age and get it into their heads that the work they’ve put in here will carry over into their lives later. I think that was a big reason for us to do this,” he said.

The space on W. 108th Street in Lenexa will be filled with turf, a full weight room, TVs, speakers and more. He said it will be for private workouts and conditioning sessions, but there is a centralized focus on helping teammates work together.

There is also an emphasis not only on how children’s skills improve, but also on providing time and space for mentoring.

They plan to have Olivia’s pictures which covers one wall inside and will have a large picture of her in the front on the windows for passers-by to see.

“This is in memory of someone whose life was too short and hopefully they can learn a little bit about our story so that parents can instill in their children the importance of who you hang around, what you do extra. time,” said Andrew.

There was a moment of apprehension on Piotrowski’s part in the process, though he didn’t know he would need a “Special Use Permit” from the city to build and operate his gym.

“We put the cart before the horse and picked the site, had everything in place, only to find out we needed a special use permit, so during that process, I was nervous it wasn’t going to be approved,” he said he.

In the end, the local council unanimously approved the special use permit.

No worries now with plans to open in December. He said they started a memorial event last year for Olivia at Loose Park, where she often went, for people to gather and remember her life.

“One of the big intentions is to try to get this facility open in time for us to have a grand opening/commemoration in her honor as well.”

Piotrowski hopes this can be a good thing in the community and believes the city of Lenexa and area agencies like the police want to work together and help them on their way to being in business.

“Bring awareness about fentanyl and bring awareness mainly to keep kids on the right path.”

It will continue to be a journey without Olivia in their lives, but through training, they can help others every day.

“I think idle hands are idle minds, so to be able to have a place where they can have achievable goals, achieve their goals, and just prepare them for what’s to come.”

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