Frequently Asked Questions
- How long is the project going to take? What is the timeline?
- How much is the project going to cost? How is it being funded? Who is paying for it?
- Is the outdoor pool going to remain in use while the new one is being built? Will it affect the current class schedule?
- Will the outdoor pool remain after construction is complete on the new pool? If not, what will be done with that space? Will it go back to being beach? Or will they make it into a play area, volleyball/basketball court?
- Will the new pool construction affect beach parking?
- Is the construction of the new pool going to affect the pedestrian pathways?
- Are there going to be road closures during construction?
- Are the drawings/renderings of the new building, pool and landscaping going to be available for the public to view?
- What are the pool specifications? (i.e. Pool size? How many diving boards, etc.)
- What will be the width of the new 50M Pool?
- Will spectator viewing areas be provided for the new pool when events are being held?
- How can the community provide input to the project?
- Are there any alternative locations where the pool can be constructed?
Start of Construction of the new facility is pending identification of funding / increase in oil price per barrel, which is the primary funding source. See also Project Implementation Plan and Timeline
The City estimates the current, revised project budget in the amount of $85 million, which will be funded through the City’s Tidelands Funds. Currently the City has set aside $61.5 million in funds for the project. Additionally, the City has implemented a fund raising campaign to offer opportunities for private sponsorships and/or donations to help fund the project.
The current temporary pool will be converted to a permanent facility with construction of the new facility. Any impacts to current class and swim programming schedules are anticipated to be minimized by phasing construction activities within the temporary pool facility.
The temporary pool will remain and be converted to a permanent facility.
A portion of the parking lot to the East of the facility will be needed as construction staging area. This space will be returned to public parking after construction is complete. Impacts to the Belmont Pier parking lot to the West of the facility will be minimized to only areas requiring improvements. No staging will be allowed to impact any spaces in this lot.
The project construction site will include the footprint of the existing facility, the park area to the North of the existing facility and E. Olympic Plaza. All pedestrian pathways within the project construction site will be closed to public access during construction. Re-configured and enhanced pedestrian pathways will be re-established upon completion of the project.
Access to the project site via Bennett Ave. will be limited and E. Olympic Plaza will be closed.
See page About the Project to view the conceptual plans. See page Community Input for links to the EIR documents.
The facility will provide outdoor pools. See page About the Project for additional details.
The width of the new 50M Pool will either be 25 meters or 25 yards. The plans currently show a 25 meter width to cover worst case project impact and cost. However, there are pros and cons to both widths that will be further analyzed during the detailed design of the project, in collaboration with project stakeholders.
1,865 permanent spectator seats are proposed for the pools in the new facility, including the 310 seats at the existing temporary pool. 1,555 seats at the new 50m pool and 310 existing seats at the existing temporary pool that will be converted to a permanent facility.
Notifications for opportunities for the public to provide input to the project will be issued in concert, and in compliance with requisite permitting processes.
Responses to comments received are published in the final EIR.
Notification for the Coastal Development Permit Application will be distributed in compliance with the Coastal Act requirements.
Links to the Final EIR, DEIR, DEIR Study Session Presentations, Community Meeting Presentations, and Results of the design survey can be found on the Community Input Page
Project alternatives, including locations are addressed in EIR. Due to the funding requirement that the project remain in the Tidelands area, the established use of the existing site as an aquatic center and other feasibility analyses conducted and considered, the City is proceeding with a preferred alternative of implementation of the project at the current site.