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 the state-of-the-art aquatic facility to council members as part of a first reading during Monday’s City Council meeting. The development comes after the YMCA announced earlier this month that it had reached its fundraising goal -- upwards of $8 million -- to help construct the facility at 3601 N. Village Drive.
“We wanted to show that we're proposing a state-of-the-art facility, something that St. Joe can be very proud of and that can be utilized for people locally and then in the surrounding areas, regionally and even nationally," St. Joseph YMCA CEO Tammy Killin said. "That's something that we want to promote."
Councilmembers will now consider the proposal and make a final decision Tuesday, May 27, on whether to move forward with the joint agreement, one that would see the city provide $7 million in funding for construction of the facility on the YMCA's Community Campus at 3601 N. Village Drive. The city would also provide $270,000 a year for operational costs for a 20-year term.
Plans call for a 35,000-square-foot facility that would 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.
Killin said if a project agreement does ultimately receive city council support, work will immediately begin on completing final designs.
"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.
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.
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.
“A lot of desire has been to do something to where we can use it year round,” St. Joseph Mayor John Josendale said. “We're trying to put something out that is sustainable long-term for the community.”
The aquatic center will also have the ability to offer lifeguard training year-round. Killin said a hybrid indoor/outdoor component is also in the works to provide a level of outdoor recreation.
“You are going to see features like the (retractable) doors that will have an indoor or outdoor element, where you can go outside, do some sunbathing or just get some sun and come back in," Killin said. "Programing has been the emphasis and the base of all that we have done, meaning those five areas of programing on water safety and rehabilitation, competitive swimming, aqua therapy, aqua exercise as well as family development."
City officials are also looking at offering bus service to the new Aquatic Center, with plans 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 if purchased.
“There were a lot of questions that were raised, like how do we get to it? As people bring those up, as people talk to us about that, we're trying to be very cognizant of what they're saying so that we can positively respond to them and say, 'Yes, we're going to do this. Yes, this will be in the agreement,'” Josendale said.
As part of the terms of the agreement, the facility would be owned and operated by the YMCA. However, as a condition, the city may inspect the Aquatic Center and withhold any annual payments if ongoing maintenance and operation of the Aquatic Center is not satisfactory, as determined solely by the City.
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.
The city plans to continue offering the lazy river and zero-depth entry pool features at the Aquatic Center, along with the Liberty Oak Splash Park at Hyde Park for residents to enjoy in warm-weather months.
