Thursday, April 25, 2024
A question on whether the city of Granbury should finance a new aquatics facility to replace the aging Dana Vollmer Municipal Swim Center could go before voters as soon as November.
If that happens, and if voters agree to spend up to about $9 million, the new facility could be constructed and open for the 2024 summer season.
Options include demolishing and repurposing the current site at 301 N. Park Dr. or constructing a new facility at a different location, possibly further north.
Fees would help offset the cost.
No decisions have been made, but the matter was discussed at the Granbury City Council’s regular meeting on Tuesday, June 7.
The council heard a presentation from George Deines of Counsilman-Hunsaker, an aquatic planning and design firm, and Stephen Springs of Brinkley Sargent Wiginton Architects.
Deines told the council about the state of the current city-owned swimming pool. He also shared views expressed by the public and offered three possible options for a new swimming facility.
A slide presentation included drawings of each option and photos of what some of the amenities might look like.
Deines stated that public pools have a lifespan of 25-30 years and that Granbury’s pool fits within that timeframe, indicating that it is “time for renovation or an eventual replacement.”
The aquatic center features a 4,280 square foot swimming pool with depths ranging from four to 12 feet.
Issues needing attention include a cracking pool surface, problems with underwater lights, corrosion in the mechanical room, cracking in the locker room wall and deck movement.
“Currently we’re not running the lights because it’s not safe,” City Manager Chris Coffman said.
The estimated cost for repairs and upgrades is about $1.2 million, Deines said. That cost would include $151,000 for a new water slide.
Before addressing the proposed options for a new swim facility, Deines provided details about desires expressed by the community when a survey was done, and a community meeting was held earlier this year.
Of the 213 people who participated, 43% said they have children under the age of 18; 57% said they have three or more people in their household; 77% said they live within Granbury’s city limits; and 70% said they did not visit the city pool in 2021.
Deines said that attendance at the pool has been down, and not just because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some are opting for newer facilities, such as those in Cleburne and Stephenville or at the Hood County YMCA, he said.
Top amenities desired among survey participants were waterslides, preferably larger ones; zero-depth entry; a separate children’s pool and play area; plenty of shaded areas; ADA accessibility; a lazy river; and continued affordability.
Currently, those age three and older pay $4 to use the city pool.
Option 3 in the presentation included a lazy river component, but Deines noted that a lazy river would be “pretty tight within the existing site.”
Project costs were estimated at $7.3M for Option 1, $8.9M for Option 2 and $8.4M for Option 3.
Both Deines and Springs cautioned the council about the estimates, noting the current unpredictability of construction costs. Deines said that “one year of escalation” in construction costs was factored into the financial projections.
“It’s hard for us to project costs because right now the crystal ball is as fuzzy as it’s ever been,” Springs said, adding that numbers can be updated once the location and scope of the project has been determined. “But anything you get from any contractor today is going to be qualified with a bit fat asterisk.”
CHOICES
The proposed designs feature some of the same amenities but photos in the slide presentation indicated variations in what those amenities might look like.
Option 1 features a 4,639 square foot leisure pool; zero-depth entry; a family waterslide; a floatable crossing activity for children; a dual waterslide tower; a 1,881 square foot wet deck with children’s play structure; shade structures and a shade pavilion; and a new support building.
Option 2 includes a 7,260 square foot leisure pool; zero-depth entry; a children’s play structure; a family waterslide; a floatable crossing activity; a waterslide tower with three slides; three 25-yard lap lanes; a one-meter diving board; a 970-square-foot children’s pool; shade structures and a shade pavilion; and a new support building.
Option 3 features an 8,300 square foot leisure pool; zero-depth entry; a children’s play structure; a waterslide tower; a lazy river; water basketball; shade structures and a shade pavilion; and a new support building.
Deines said that with people moving to the north side of U.S. Highway 377, choosing a location to the north would double the number of people who would be within a 30-minute drive of the city swimming pool. He stated that such a location would likely draw people from the Fort Worth and Benbrook area.
Coffman noted the city’s rapidly growing population and the school district’s growing student numbers.
He said that if the city were to build a new swim facility in a different part of town, about four or four-and-a-half acres would be needed.
DECISIONS
Coffman asked Deines what the life expectancy of the current city pool would be if the city were to simply repair it.
Deines indicated that it might be possible to extend the life of the Dana Vollmer Municipal Swim Center for another 10 years “with the caveat that the ground and pool structure are stable.”
He stated, “Getting to 40 years with an outdoor pool is not unheard of. It could be functional for another decade and a half.”
Deines said that the earliest a new swim facility could open in Granbury would be the 2024 summer season. He based that on a timeline of six to eight months for design work and nine to 11 months for construction.
“So, you would have to put this on the ballot in November,” Coffman commented.
The city manager stated that after the last legislative session, cities are required to get voter approval before taking on debt to build recreational facilities.
