Aquatic Community: Make Your Voice Heard!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: On Wednesday, October 11th, the City of Walnut Creek is hosting an Open House for the city’s new Aquatic and Community Center. Members of the community are invited to attend, view the conceptual design, and provide feedback. You must pre-register for the Open House, so please do so!
Last year, the Walnut Creek Aquatic Foundation entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Walnut Creek. The Foundation agreed to fundraise $3 million for the new Aquatic Center. The City agreed that the Aquatic Center would “accommodate the existing and long-term needs of the three swim teams as well as other programming and user groups.”
While the Aquatic Foundation is pleased to see the progress being made, we are concerned that the new conceptual design is too small to support current aquatic programming and will not meet community needs in the future. Click here to see the conceptual design released by the City. The recreational pool shown in the conceptual design is too small to offset the loss of the third pool that we currently have. The footprint of the proposed Aquatic Center is essentially 25% of the existing Clark Memorial Swim Center. If this design moves forward, the ability to continue existing aquatic events and services (with this downsized footprint and water space) seems impossible.
Here’s where we need YOUR help. We need you to tell the City what you want in a new facility. We also need your support in asking the City to show the community how existing aquatic events and services will be accommodated in the new facility. Knowing what events and services will fit into the new Aquatic Center will be important for community members, leaders of the Chamber of Commerce, and others who have advocated for an Aquatic Center that can host revenue generating water polo and swim events that drive local tourism. Please plan to attend the Open House and engage with the project leaders.
Sample questions to ask:
How can a downsized facility on a smaller proposed footprint accommodate current programming or cherished traditions such as the Walnut Creek Aquanuts’ spectacular shows or the annual All City Meet?
How can a downsized facility accommodate Walnut Creek’s growing population, provide access to users of all ages and abilities, and help the City achieve its DEIB goals?
How can a downsized facility support an expansion of aquatic programming or allow for large regional/national competitions that would bring revenue to the City and local businesses?
The Walnut Creek Aquatic Foundation remains committed to our partnership and commitment to raise $3 million. We ask the City to remain committed to the agreements it made in the Memorandum of Understanding. We look forward to seeing our aquatic community at the Open House on October 11th! For those who cannot make the Open House, the City is offering other opportunities for the community to provide feedback. Learn more here New Aquatic and Community Center Booth Events