City of Walnut Creek Plans for Building a New Aquatic Facility
As we previously reported, the Walnut Creek Aquatic Foundation (WCAF) entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Walnut Creek to raise $3 million dollars toward a new aquatic facility to be constructed at Heather Farm Park. You can read more about the MOU here.
The MOU between WCAF and the City of Walnut Creek:
- Secures the City’s commitment to construct a new, state-of-the art aquatic facility as a needed replacement to the existing 50-year-old pools;
- Provides guarantees from the City for the continuation and possible expansion of aquatics programming;
- Includes commitments from the City for the timely initiation and completion of the project;
- Gives WCAF input regarding the final design.
In exchange for these commitments, WCAF agreed to fundraise $3 million dollars because the pool at Heather Farm, built in the early 1970s, is nearing the end of its serviceable life. We want to maintain and build on our community’s legacy of aquatic excellence and ensure that future generations have access to an outstanding facility. While $3 million dollars is a significant contribution, the City of Walnut Creek has indicated that it does not have sufficient funds to build the new aquatic facility and thus has not formally commenced the project.
This month, the Walnut Creek City Council endorsed Measure O, a November ballot measure seeking a 10-year, half cent sales tax increase to fund “current and future quality of life needs.” The City estimates the sales tax will raise $11 million annually, allowing it to fund a variety of needs it says it otherwise cannot fund, including repairing and replacing aging City facilities.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, WCAF is not taking a partisan position on the Measure O sales tax. Under federal guidelines, a 501(c)(3) organization cannot engage in political endorsements. However, since many of you are asking, we want to share resources for where you can learn more about Measure O.