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MONDAY, MAY 11, 2015
Vol. CXXIV, No. 90
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Published Since Since 1890 1890
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Hilltop community breaks ground on $7.6M Tacoma aquatics facility Posted online Fri., May 8 Article By Todd Matthews, Editor Metro Parks Tacoma and the City of Tacoma hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday to mark the beginning of a major renovation of an aquatics facility in Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood. A new swimming pool is the centerpiece of the $7.6 million project at the People's Community Center, which will also include a three-lane lap pool, passive swim area and bench, indoor spray pad, current channel, vortex, and lily pad walk. In addition, visitors will also notice new restrooms and changing areas, two party rooms, and basketball hoops. The project is being paid for using approximately $5.34 million in City funds, approximately $1.74 million in Metro Parks Tacoma bonds, and a $485,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce. The pool is scheduled to open to the public in fall 2016. The People's Community Center, which was built in 1978 and is located at 1602 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, is owned by the City of Tacoma and operated by Metro Parks Tacoma. The pool was closed in 2008 after an engineer's report cited structural concerns. A stakeholders group that included Metro Parks Tacoma, City of Tacoma, and community representatives formed to advocate for re-opening the facility and secure funding for the project. Several stakeholders spoke about the project
during the ceremony this week. Their comments have been edited for clarity and abridged for publication. Tim Reid (Metro Parks Tacoma Commissioner) This marks a major milestone in the redevelopment. As we began the planning for a much needed update to the pool in 2008, we discovered major structural issues which prompted the immediate closure to ensure public safety. We were extremely challenged in 2008 because the one-million dollars provided from the park improvement bond wouldn't begin to address
The City of Tacoma and Metro Parks Tacoma hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday to mark the beginning of a $7.6 million project that will create a swimming pool and aquatics facility at the People's Community Center in Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood. (PHOTO ABOVE BY TODD MATTHEWS / IMAGE BELOW COURTESY METRO PARKS TACOMA) the necessary replacement of the structure, let alone anything for the pool. After we talked to the community, we considered options for what we could afford to provide for the center within the one-million dollars provided in the budget. We discussed the option of repurposing this portion of the pool building, constructing new walls, and adding a second gym. As we began reaching out to the community, it became clear that the Hilltop community wanted and needed a replacement pool. It was equally clear that there was nowhere near the funding needed to make that happen. The process has taken some time and countless conversations. We're all excited about the outcome. Lauren Walker (Tacoma City Councilmember) This pool means a great deal to me. I was going through some old boxes of my kids' stuff — my kids are 26 and 24 now — just about a CONTINUED month ago and [found] ON PAGE 3