Kingsport plans for an Aquatic Center (home, YMCA, tax)

[mbmouse]

Just got an email this morning explaining the current findings and issues with the planning of an Aquatic Center in Kingsport and thought I would share.
________________________________
Kingsport Aquatic Center Facts
Source: Kingsport Office of Community Relations
email: whaley@ci.kingsport.tn.us

COST: $14 to $15 million

LOCATION: MeadowView Parkway at Wilcox Drive (adjoining the Golf Driving Range)

TIMELINE: Start April 2009, Open in Summer 2010

FACILITIES:
2 indoor pools (lap pool and warm pool)
2 outdoor pools (activity pool with 2 slides and zero-depth children's water area)

CO-LOCATION WITH THE YMCA

* The Aquatic Center will be open to anyone in the region. You do not have to be a YMCA member to use the facility.

* Co-location could cut estimated $260,000 operating subsidy by $120,000 or more according to Markey & Associates aquatic engineering firm

* Co-location reduces competing aquatic facilities

* YMCA is a non-profit group

Study by Markey & Associates budget based on general admission of $5 for adults and $3 for children.

BMA & Public Input

* Parks & Recreation Committee considers concept and possible locations Votes unanimously in favor of hybrid model; recommends MeadowView if hybrid

* Mayoral Advisory Committee considers possible locations “ Votes 11-1 in favor of MeadowView location; no votes for Legion site (Note: Mayoral committee consisted of members from a cross-section of community interests from Lynn Garden to Riverview to Fairacres to Preston Woods to Public Housing)

Demographic analysis favored MeadowView

* 50 locations around the city measured for average drive time

* 15 demographic groups examined including:

* Closest proximity to youngest population

* Closest proximity to home owners

* Closest proximity to Recent & Projected Population Growth

Engineering study & acquisition costs favored MeadowView

* MeadowView cheapest at $3,730,000

* Legion Pool = $4,970,000

* Downtown = $7,005,000

Don Schumacher Report

* Don Schumacher & Associates, Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio conducting KCVB study of sports facility needs in Kingsport;

* 8 aquatic sites reviewed

* Recommended Meadowview based upon future expansion space, view shed, access and desirability as a regional attraction to reduce local subsidy



If you would like to receive "good news" about Kingsport, please write to jeff_fleming@earthlink.net



Please feel free to forward this to a friend.


Best Regards

[MooksterL1]

Thanks for posting that, mbmouse! I've been attempting to follow this story, even though it will be a few years before the center is finished. I've been taking my kids to the Natural Tunnel pool to swim.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by mbmouse

Just got an email this morning explaining the current findings and issues with the planning of an Aquatic Center in Kingsport and thought I would share.
________________________________
Kingsport Aquatic Center Facts
Source: Kingsport Office of Community Relations
email: whaley@ci.kingsport.tn.us

COST: $14 to $15 million

LOCATION: MeadowView Parkway at Wilcox Drive (adjoining the Golf Driving Range)

TIMELINE: Start April 2009, Open in Summer 2010

FACILITIES:
2 indoor pools (lap pool and warm pool)
2 outdoor pools (activity pool with 2 slides and zero-depth children's water area)

CO-LOCATION WITH THE YMCA

* The Aquatic Center will be open to anyone in the region. You do not have to be a YMCA member to use the facility.

* Co-location could cut estimated $260,000 operating subsidy by $120,000 or more according to Markey & Associates aquatic engineering firm

* Co-location reduces competing aquatic facilities

* YMCA is a non-profit group

Study by Markey & Associates budget based on general admission of $5 for adults and $3 for children.

BMA & Public Input

* Parks & Recreation Committee considers concept and possible locations Votes unanimously in favor of hybrid model; recommends MeadowView if hybrid

* Mayoral Advisory Committee considers possible locations “ Votes 11-1 in favor of MeadowView location; no votes for Legion site (Note: Mayoral committee consisted of members from a cross-section of community interests from Lynn Garden to Riverview to Fairacres to Preston Woods to Public Housing)

Demographic analysis favored MeadowView

* 50 locations around the city measured for average drive time

* 15 demographic groups examined including:

* Closest proximity to youngest population

* Closest proximity to home owners

* Closest proximity to Recent & Projected Population Growth

Engineering study & acquisition costs favored MeadowView

* MeadowView cheapest at $3,730,000

* Legion Pool = $4,970,000

* Downtown = $7,005,000

Don Schumacher Report

* Don Schumacher & Associates, Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio conducting KCVB study of sports facility needs in Kingsport;

* 8 aquatic sites reviewed

* Recommended Meadowview based upon future expansion space, view shed, access and desirability as a regional attraction to reduce local subsidy



If you would like to receive "good news" about Kingsport, please write to jeff_fleming@earthlink.net



Please feel free to forward this to a friend.


Best Regards

Wow. Great news for Kingsport. That's major.

[gypsiechavi]

I thought the Aquatics Center was meant for city residents? A quick look at Google Maps shows it is as far from downtown as possible. What happens to Legion Pool? You know, the one that the residents of the city this pool is meant for and can WALK to? I was under the impression the downtown area was being revitalized. I was also under the impression that the city already owned the property in which the Legion Pool resides. I heard parking is an issue for the pool being located at Legion. Seriously? Did the people who prepared this report even see the Legion site? Did they see it during the summer months when most people walk to the pool? Oh and did anyone notice the Dobyns Bennett parking lot? Are we really that lazy of a bunch? I know a lot of children have no other way to get to the pool other than walking. Placing the new pool at Meadowview would limit their ability to enjoy their city pool.

I highly doubt that spending all of this taxpayer money on something that will be out of reach for many city residents is in any way a positive venture for Kingsport. I suspect this is more of a financially positive venture for friends of the "decision makers". What a shame. Especially when we consider how often we hear from the newspaper and local government how badly we need to draw people/fresh blood/business (ie. tax revenue) to the city of Kingsport. Why then do we situate everything new and community oriented as far from the downtown streets as possible while still remaining just within the city limits?

Just a thought - Maybe the gigantic new aquatics center is a bit ambitious? We may want to scale down our plans and focus on what the residents can afford and need, not what an elite few desire. Can we not spend less and revamp/expand the current CITY pool instead of building a new one by spending my children's grandchildren's tax money? Let's try to be happy with what we have and improve on that instead of throwing it away to create a Willy Wonka type enviroment.

[rccrain]

Have I ever mentioned JC needs a nice YMCA? Carver Park is a little too scary for me...

[tsmith53]

I think this aquatic park would be wonderful!! Indoor pools are scarce in kingsport. Our family loves the water. Would be nice to swim in the winter months to keep fit and get off the couch.