PORT ANGELES — When William Shore Memorial Pool was built more than 40 years ago, John F. Kennedy was president and Alaska and Hawaii had only recently achieved statehood.
Now the city’s voters face a decision on whether to approve a $13.8 million bond issue that would replace the single-use swimming pool at 225 E. Fifth St. with a multi-use “aquatics center” at 302 S. Francis St.
The center would also have space set aside for a future indoor soccer and tennis building.
The bond issue will appear on ballots that will be mailed out this week for the Oct. 18-Nov. 7 general election.
The center would cost an estimated 84 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation or about an additional $126 a year for the owner of a $150,000 home.
The 84 cents per $1,000 would decrease as the city’s assessed valuation increases.
The bond issue would require a 60 percent “yes” vote and a turnout equal to 40 percent of those voting in the last city election to pass, a little more than 3,000 people.
Design of center
The aquatics center design includes a 51,447-square-foot, two-level building with spectator seating for more than 160 people and a pool deck and 400 lockers, located at the Clallam County Family YMCA.
It would have 2,130 square feet of lap swimming space in six 25-yard lanes and 4,800 square feet of leisure pool space in three 25-meter lanes plus a diving area.
It also would have an irregular-shaped leisure pool, wave pool, water slides, a spa pool, “bubble couches” and underwater benches, current channel, sauna and steam room, interactive play features, deck circulation and sitting areas and a family patio area and a mezzanine viewing area.
After rejecting inclusion of a proposed indoor soccer and tennis building in the project’s site plan, the council did agree to leave space on the project’s site plan for its future construction.
