New Community Aquatic Center inches closer to reality as City Council mulls latest proposal

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (NEWS-PRESS NOW) -- Plans for a new $15.6 million indoor aquatic facility in north St. Joseph took a sizable step forward Monday as City Council members weighed the latest proposal for a potential joint partnership.

YMCA officials presented a vision and new details for a state-of-the-art facility to council members as part of a first reading for the agreement during Monday’s City Council meeting. The development comes after the YMCA announced early this month that it had reached its fundraising goal -- upwards of $8 million -- to construct the facility at 3601 N. Village Drive.

Council members will now consider the proposal and make a final decision on Tuesday, May 27, on whether to move forward with the joint agreement, one that would see the city provide $7 million in funding for the construction and operation of the public aquatic facility on the YMCA's Community Campus at 3601 N. Village Drive.

YMCA CEO Tammy Killin said if a project agreement does ultimately receive the city's support, work will immediately begin on completing final designs and renderings.

"The hope would be we could even maybe dig dirt as early as this fall, but maybe more realistically, in early March of next year. Then it's an 18-month project from that point," Killin said.

Unofficial renderings show the 35,000-square-foot facility will include a 50-meter pool with 10 lanes, a four-lane wellness pool, a multi-purpose room, locker rooms, spectator seating, offices and on-site food and beverage concessions, among other amenities. The wellness pool is a dual recreational and therapeutic pool that includes a play area and four lanes for water safety and swim lessons.

The proposed agreement requires that the Aquatic Center be open seven days a week, excluding major holidays, and be available to the public for at least five hours daily. A membership to the YMCA would not be required to use the Aquatic Center. 

As part of the agreement, the facility would be owned and operated by the YMCA.

The agreement also specifies that daily admission for the facility will not exceed $8 unless approved by the city. St. Joseph residents will receive a $2 discount on admission when they present identification. Children younger than 3 will be given free admission.  

City officials are also discussing offering bus service to the new Aquatic Center, and plans are to place a covered transit shelter outside the facility. The goal is to ensure all residents have access to the pool. Bus passes for youth will be included in the youth pool pass. 

Per terms of the agreement with the YMCA, the city's first annual operating payment shall be made by Aug. 15, 2027, if the Aquatic Center is fully constructed and operational at that time. Annual fund payments must be approved each year by a City Council resolution.

The aquatic center funding agreement provides that the grant funds in the amount of $7,000,000 will be provided as follows:

• $1,000,000 upon commencement of construction of the Aquatic Center;
• $3,000,000 upon the Aquatic Center construction becoming in “the dry”, meaning the exterior structure is fully enclosed;
• $3,000,000 upon final completion of construction of the Aquatic Center.