PORT TOWNSEND — While plans for a new community swimming pool in Jefferson County are treading water, members of Make Waves! said they hope to splash up some support this month for the creation of an aquatic recreation center.
Members of Make Waves!, an all-volunteer, nonprofit citizen organization dedicated to creating a new public pool and workout facility near Kah Tai Lagoon in Port Townsend, said that they are keeping on course and staying in their lane while they wait for decisions to be made by public officials.
But while they wait, Make Waves! members have organized bingo nights at the Hilltop Tavern, 2510 W. Sims Way, in Port Townsend, every Wednesday night.
Starting at 7 tonight, all proceeds from the bingo nights through Dec. 30 will be donated to the development of an aquatic center.
The organization is hoping that the bingo night is the first of many fundraisers which will begin in earnest next year.
But first they need to know if they have the land, and if they can begin drawing up “pretty pictures.”
“Right now the process is to see what the government agencies decide,” said Nancy Speser, a member of the Make Waves! executive board.
“We’re waiting to hear from the Port of Port Townsend for their decision, and then we can go out and hire an architect and get the designs and the pretty pictures made to get this going,” she said.
“We really are hoping we can start the full fundraising in the spring of 2010.”
Speser said the organization has the money to hire an architect, but is waiting for the property to be either approved for either sale or donated to the group from the current owners: the port.
Port of Port Townsend Deputy Director Jim Pivarnik said that staff members are waiting for Commissioner-elect Leif Erickson to join the board in January before they present the issue to the board.
“We are looking for discussion on the topic in late January,” Pivarnik said.
Whatever the port decides would go before the Port Townsend City Council. The city of Port Townsend has a lease on part of the land until 2012.
Also, the Jefferson Transit Authority would need to consider authorizing the use of the parking lot at the Park and Ride as Make Waves! has proposed using the lot as public parking for the facility.
Initial plans, dreams
Initial plans for the aquatic center include a 40,000 square foot recreational center housing both a pool and a workout facility.
The proposed site straddles property where Transit’s Haines Place Park and Ride and the Port’s Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park are located at 12th and Haines streets.
Under discussion are an eight-lane, 25 meter pool that conforms to international standards, an indoor track for walker, joggers and baby strollers, a therapy pool, multipurpose room, basketball court, aerobics/yoga room, Jacuzzi, sauna, climbing wall and rooms for cardio and muscle resistance equipment.
But for now, it’s all talk, Speser said.
“Until we get the drawings, we can’t go out and start the real fundraising,” she said.
“And we can’t get the drawings until we know we have the location.
“So for now, we are doing little fundraisers and waiting for the governments to decide if they like the idea.”
For current pool users, the idea of having a full-sized facility would be a dream come true.
The current Port Townsend Swimming Pool, located at the Mountain View Commons at the corner of Blaine and Walker streets, is only 20 yards long. A regular lap pool is either 25 or 50 yards long.
“Right now, we do more turns than any other team,” said Christian Elbert, coach of the Port Townsend Swim Team which is a member of USA Swimming.
“We don’t have any home swim meets, and when we go to other pools the swimmer’s stroke count is off.
“It would be really nice to change all of that.”
Elbert said he was anxiously waiting to see what designs come out for the new facility, if the land usage is eventually approved.
“It would be great to have an eight-lane pool, at least,” he said.
“Then we could host some big swim meets in Port Townsend and start generating revenue for the team.”
________
Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
