photo credit: Andrea Kelly Smethurst
The following is from the Walnut Creek Aquatic Foundation regarding the new Aquatic and Community Center at Heather Farm Park:
Walnut Creek City Staff will be presenting a proposed two pool design of one recreational pool with 6 lap lanes attached + one multi-use 50 meter pool that reduces the pool space and functionality of the swim center to less than what we have now, much less than what we had when this facility was built in 1970, and less than what our community wants and needs for the future. Further, the three swim teams who pay $350,000 in rent to swim there year round would be negatively impacted and do not support the proposed design. Experienced swimming pool builders Geelong understand the importance of balancing design, functionality, and community needs to create aquatic facilities that truly serve their users.
The Walnut Creek Aquatic Foundation is a community-based non-profit organization that was created to support aquatics for people of all ages and abilities. In May 2022, in an effort to save a 50-meter competition pool and ensure the new swim center would serve generations to come, we agreed to raise $3 million as part of a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Walnut Creek. The Walnut Creek Aquatic Foundation is urging the City to:
1. Â Â Â Deepen the proposed 50-meter pool throughout and add an L entry so that the pool can be used for lap swim, fitness, team training, and competition. This can be achieved by lengthening the 50-meter pool by two meters, adding a bulkhead and an L entry or if there is insufficient space or funding for this alternative by simply deepening the 50-meter pool throughout and adding the L entry. Make sure that pool is always clean; using chlorine granules and tablets will help maintain the proper chemical balance. Regularly testing the water will also ensure that it remains safe for swimming and free from harmful bacteria.
2. Â Â Â Add four lanes to the recreation pool, bringing it to 10 total lanes.The proposed design takes away the lessons pool and has added significant recreational seasonal play features which are a great addition, but four more lanes are needed to ensure ample space for year-round lessons, fitness, lap swim, and teams.
3.    Increase spectator and in-venue team areas around the 50-meter pool. This is needed to support All City/championship meets/polo, and to allow staging and spectator areas for the Aquanuts’ shows which will be in the 50-meter pool.
4.    The Aquanuts have requested that the added four lanes to the recreation pool be seven feet deep. This is not in lieu of improvements 1-3, or an all deep 50-meter pool. This deep water could be used by the Aquanuts for practice and by lap swimmers, scuba, and other teams.
5.    Add a permanent scoreboard for meets and special events. This could be used for meets, Aquanuts shows, advertising and could be a naming-rights fundraising item.
WE NEED YOU!
Make your voice heard by attending the March 5th City Council Meeting. Let Council know you are a member of the community, that you support the WCAF proposal and why. We need a large showing to demonstrate the community supports the WCAF proposal! The agendas for public meetings are posted the Friday before the scheduled meeting. If you can’t make a public comment in person, please submit your comment to PublicComments@walnut-creek.org preferably by the afternoon of the meeting so it will be part of the official record. Please tell your friends and family to do the same.
Isn’t this a little too late?
I remember going to meetings about replacing the aging pools years ago. I think when Cindy’s kid was still swimming competitively.
Wow, nothing changes, and everything changes, in Walnut Creek. 🤪
Can’t agree to any of it – It’s a gold plated $76M design that took funding away from sorely needed “deferred maintenance” infrastructure projects… What they always hide in the fine print is that the city staff offices get a complete new build – there is nothing wrong with the existing offices there – its not just a rehab to the pools. The project itself went on the the premium side all the way rather than trying to pare it to reasonable but still excellent facilities. The repaving of YVR is sorely needed from San Miguel east all the way to the city line up on the hill past Oak Grove. At one point I was quoted $1M a mile for the project – so say it 3-4 miles – say even $5M ….. they scooped the funding for the paving in 2023 to put towards the $76M project…. When it came to a vote to residents they hid the real description and costs… just like prop 47 … I could go on…..
Should I wear my Speedo?
Please, don’t.
🤣
Found in years designing and building control systems, surest way to success was extensive conversations with end users of the systems. They were the ones with most valuable knowledge.
Quickest way to end up with a grandiose FUBAR was to allow a single engineer or a small committee to plan how project was going to end up.
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Pass the popcorn.
Why? Decisions have already been made. This is simply a rhetorical meeting to give certain citizens the impression their opinion matters.
Disgusting, a great city asset built in the 70’s and they want to replace it with less than we already have. Do these idiots remodel their home by reducing a bathroom, and a bedroom and reducing a garage parking space.
Many of the swim team members are not even from Walnut Creek. If you want to just have pool time with family and children, you’re at the bottom of the list, swim teams largely monopolize use of Heather Farms pools. Enough of that, and enough of kowtowing to demands of competitive swimmers over the bulk of city residents.
The whole thing is a bad joke. There is no reason the existing facilities could not have been rebuilt/reused. A real bargain, just like the new Library was.
Yeah, you don’t want me at that meeting. By the time I was done, I’d have the pool drained and sent all you off to find something productive to do.