Two potential project designs were unveiled at the meeting: a recreational pool and a splash park. Designed by Freepik

 

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) – Officials with the Carmichael Recreation and Park District gave a sneak peek of two potential community pool designs, along with the preliminary results from the Pool Feasibility Study at a presentation held at 6 p.m. April 2 at the Carmichael Park Community Clubhouse. A little under 20 people were in attendance.

The pool study was launched after an anonymous donor approached the district and offered $40,000 to fund it. Councilman-Hunsaker, an aquatic design firm, was hired to research potential costs and designs. Community feedback was gathered through an online community discussion, interviews with community stakeholders and an online survey with 137 participants. 

Lance Timmons, a 6-foot-2 former lifeguard and project manager with Counsilman-Hunsaker, gave a presentation at the meeting and answered questions from the audience. Timmons said when it comes to the new pool, “overall momentum and optimism seem to be really building.”

Timmons said Carmichael residents consistently indicated they wanted a new pool for their community but were concerned about costs, and a recreational pool is favored over a competitive pool. So, the firm created smaller designs with warmer water, intended for local use, and didn’t compete with facilities that have regional appeal, such as the North Natomas Aquatic Complex.

Of the three potential pool sites considered, Carmichael Park is the favorite; Del Campo Park has been eliminated as a possibility at this time, while the La Sierra Community Center is still an option. Carmichael Park previously had a pool for decades. It was dedicated in 1956, closed after decades of wear and tear in 2004, and demolished in 2013 after the money to either repair or replace it never materialized. Today, the site is a grassy field. 

Two potential project designs were unveiled at the meeting: a recreational pool and a splash park. The designs are subject to change and not finalized. It should also be noted that the district currently has no funding available for the construction or maintenance of either design, with funding most likely coming from a new tax or bond measure. 

Concept One is the proposed pool design. It is 4,130 square feet and costs an estimated $10 to $15 million. The depth goes from 3.6 to 7 feet. It features three 25-yard lap lanes, an interactive play structure with a small slide, a zero-depth entryway and underwater benches. It will also allow for water volleyball and water basketball. The comfortable occupancy is under 100, and the max capacity is under 200. Up to 500 could use the facility in a day. 

The pool would require 60 to 90 dedicated parking spots. While the cost is higher than the second option, it offers more revenue opportunities through rentals and lessons. Of the money generated from use, it’s estimated that about 77 percent will come from recreational swimming, 20 percent from classes, 3 percent from competitions and 2 percent from wellness therapy sessions like water aerobics. 

Concept Two, the alternative, is a splash park at 3,925 square feet. It has an estimated cost between $3 millon and $5 million. The park would feature vertical water sprays, ground water sprays and pool floats. The comfortable occupancy is under 75, and the max capacity is under 170. About 400 people could use the facility a day. 

About 10 to 25 parking spaces would be needed. A splash park would be cheaper than a pool but wouldn’t allow swimming lessons or adult exercise. It would mainly be a fun activity for young kids. Construction of a splash park is part of the district’s most recent master plan, which calls for a 16,000-square-foot facility costing $1 million. Timmons laughed when recounting those numbers and said his firm’s design is much more realistic in terms of space and costs. 

 

Among the audience members present, no one expressed support for a splash park. Ken Hall, a board member of the Carmichael Parks Foundation, told Timmons that a pool was preferred to provide more opportunities for people to learn how to swim. 

“We are a community that has two major natural rivers that come through this area, and every year we see another dozen kids, another dozen adults have died as a result of drowning on those rivers,” Hall said. “We need swim lessons.”

Audience members expressed a range of concerns about the proposed pool design; one discussed was the number of lap lanes. The current plan calls for three lanes, but Timmons said at least six would be needed to support a swim team. Adding more would increase project costs.

Others said they felt the number of survey participants was too low and wanted further community discussions. Rosie Buck, president of the Carmichael Chamber of Commerce, said she was concerned about the lack of information regarding locker rooms or showers. 

“I love Concept One, but it's hard for me to feel, as a resident, that I can back it without knowing what actual infrastructure changes we're doing,” Buck said. 

In response, Timmons said another community meeting could be held to go over the site’s layout. The project will be discussed at a district committee meeting on May 1 and then presented to the district board on May 21. However, the design still won’t be final. Rather, it will be what’s pitched to voters to sway their support for a new tax or a bond measure to fund the project. Afterward, the project specifics would be ironed out prior to construction.