It could be another four to six months before architects offer recommendations on a new outdoor pool and indoor recreation center for Macomb.
Tom LaLonde, Principal/Vice President of Williams Architects, said his firm will be studying the data collected from a random survey conducted by the Macomb Park District as well as the input gathered during a pair of open house public forums held Monday in Macomb.
He said the firm will determine what amenities the community might want, the construction cost, and the operating cost.
“Then the community has to decide if they’re going to move forward and how they’re going to pay for it, and that’s really the big question,” LaLonde said.
“If it requires some kind of tax dollars - potentially a referendum - the earliest opportunity would be a year from November (November 2014).”
72% of those responding to the park district’s survey indicated they would support construction of a new aquatic center with their tax dollars. The result is a bit of a surprise because 63% of respondents said they did not use Glenwood Pool in the past two years.
56% of those responding believe Glenwood is in fair or poor condition.
The community has to decide if they're going to move forward and how they're going to pay for it, and that%u2019s really the big question
LaLonde said the results were “a little more mixed” regarding construction of an adjoining rec center. 81% of those who responded to the survey said some or all of their needs are being met by current indoor recreation, sports, and fitness facilities.
But LaLonde said it could be more efficient to build both.
“There is some synergy in the two facilities being connected in the potential for shared locker rooms, things of that nature,” he said. “So if they were separated it would affect the cost – not in a large way, but it certainly would affect the cost, not only from a capital cost to build it but from an operational cost."
No location has been chosen for the outdoor pool and/or rec center, and the designs for each – including the various features for the pool – have yet to be finalized.
