Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Planning the Pools
|
||
|
Despite court challenge, city dives into possibilities for Riverside Park
By: JOSEPH LAW
jlaw@uvsj.com
REXBURG – Although funding for a new pool complex in Rexburg is on hold pending a court challenge, design and operating details have been presented to the City Council.
At a work meeting of the Rexburg City Council on Wednesday evening, JRW Associates made a presentation of the layout and cost of the pool as well as details on costs of operation.
The company has been working on the Riverside Park project for the city over the past two years as city officials and residents have refined their expectations for an aquatic center.
The center would be built in a park to be created on several acres of vacant land behind the Kmart Store, from the Teton River on the north to Second North on the south, which includes the site of the former Louisiana-Pacific Lumber Mill.
After feedback in public meetings on what residents indicated they want for the pool, the final design would include multiple elements.
There would be a shallow pool for families with young children that opens into an area with splash play equipment.
Next to that area, an open swim section would connect with a long rectangular pool for lap swimming.
Adjoining the lap pool would be a square pool with two water slides, one curving and one straight.
To the side of the main pool area there would be a "lazy river," a meandering loop of a pool that would have a current generated by pumps.
In addition to buildings for dressing rooms and utility equipment, there would be picnic pavilions.
Shannon Miller, a freelance consultant for JRW, made a presentation on the operating costs of similar pool complexes.
Items discussed included hours of pool operation, prices for tickets and pool rental for parties and pool passes.
According to Miller’s presentation, the goal of the design is to "offer a 'softer’ environment than a traditional chaotic, loud water park by reintroducing a park-like experience."
The cost of the aquatic center is estimated at about $5.6 million with about $1.15 million for site development.
Yearly operating costs are estimated at about $290,000 with projected revenues at about $316,000, based on figures that compare pools by the number of gallons of water.
To make estimates, comparisons were generated with 30 facilities in Utah and Idaho.
Watson said the pool has been designed so that it will be very close to being self-sufficient in operating costs.
Miller said profitability depends on the management of the facility.
The pool complex in North Ogden, Utah, which uses a simple fee structure, was cited as a model of efficiency,
"When we visited the North Ogden pool, we came away with the feeling that this is the way we want to run the pool," said Mayor Shawn Larsen.
The North Ogden Pool charges $5 per person and $200 for a group to rent part of the pool area for a party.
Although some pools studied by Miller used the idea of selling passes to the pool, she said it added complexity to managing the pool and had little change on the revenue brought in.
"I’m leaving you with the idea that you don’t need passes, " she said.
City officials want to balance making the pool affordable and self-sustaining.
"I worry about us pricing it so high people can’t afford to swim," said Councilman Bart Stevens.
The funding for the project is through an urban renewal district that would used projected property tax within the district as a basis for a bond to build the aquatic center and city park.
In February, Rexburg resident Ken Hart filed a civil complaint on opposing the URD method of funding for the project.
On May 8 Judge Brent Moss ruled in favor of the Rexburg Urban Renewal Agency allowing the project to go forward.
On June 18 Hart filed an appeal on the case to the Idaho Supreme Court.
Rexburg Chief Financial Officer Richard said it may take more than a year for the case to be decided.
Larsen said the latest word he has received from the attorney for the Urban Renewal Agency is that the case would be decided in the fall of 2009.
"I thought the presentation last night was very well done, but we’re still in a wait and see mode concerning this case or seeing if some other funding opportunity becomes available." he said.
At a work meeting of the Rexburg City Council on Wednesday evening, JRW Associates made a presentation of the layout and cost of the pool as well as details on costs of operation.
The company has been working on the Riverside Park project for the city over the past two years as city officials and residents have refined their expectations for an aquatic center.
The center would be built in a park to be created on several acres of vacant land behind the Kmart Store, from the Teton River on the north to Second North on the south, which includes the site of the former Louisiana-Pacific Lumber Mill.
After feedback in public meetings on what residents indicated they want for the pool, the final design would include multiple elements.
There would be a shallow pool for families with young children that opens into an area with splash play equipment.
Next to that area, an open swim section would connect with a long rectangular pool for lap swimming.
Adjoining the lap pool would be a square pool with two water slides, one curving and one straight.
To the side of the main pool area there would be a "lazy river," a meandering loop of a pool that would have a current generated by pumps.
In addition to buildings for dressing rooms and utility equipment, there would be picnic pavilions.
Shannon Miller, a freelance consultant for JRW, made a presentation on the operating costs of similar pool complexes.
Items discussed included hours of pool operation, prices for tickets and pool rental for parties and pool passes.
According to Miller’s presentation, the goal of the design is to "offer a 'softer’ environment than a traditional chaotic, loud water park by reintroducing a park-like experience."
The cost of the aquatic center is estimated at about $5.6 million with about $1.15 million for site development.
Yearly operating costs are estimated at about $290,000 with projected revenues at about $316,000, based on figures that compare pools by the number of gallons of water.
To make estimates, comparisons were generated with 30 facilities in Utah and Idaho.
Watson said the pool has been designed so that it will be very close to being self-sufficient in operating costs.
Miller said profitability depends on the management of the facility.
The pool complex in North Ogden, Utah, which uses a simple fee structure, was cited as a model of efficiency,
"When we visited the North Ogden pool, we came away with the feeling that this is the way we want to run the pool," said Mayor Shawn Larsen.
The North Ogden Pool charges $5 per person and $200 for a group to rent part of the pool area for a party.
Although some pools studied by Miller used the idea of selling passes to the pool, she said it added complexity to managing the pool and had little change on the revenue brought in.
"I’m leaving you with the idea that you don’t need passes, " she said.
City officials want to balance making the pool affordable and self-sustaining.
"I worry about us pricing it so high people can’t afford to swim," said Councilman Bart Stevens.
The funding for the project is through an urban renewal district that would used projected property tax within the district as a basis for a bond to build the aquatic center and city park.
In February, Rexburg resident Ken Hart filed a civil complaint on opposing the URD method of funding for the project.
On May 8 Judge Brent Moss ruled in favor of the Rexburg Urban Renewal Agency allowing the project to go forward.
On June 18 Hart filed an appeal on the case to the Idaho Supreme Court.
Rexburg Chief Financial Officer Richard said it may take more than a year for the case to be decided.
Larsen said the latest word he has received from the attorney for the Urban Renewal Agency is that the case would be decided in the fall of 2009.
"I thought the presentation last night was very well done, but we’re still in a wait and see mode concerning this case or seeing if some other funding opportunity becomes available." he said.
 |
 |
|
| Repairing roads a two-way street | Flower power |
Article Rating
| Comment Blog | |
Comments are limited to 200 words or less. |
COMMENT RULES Do not post:
If you believe that a commenter has not followed these guidelines, please use our online complaint form. Thank you for your comments! |
