Two issues to look out for at Thursday night's new Community Center meeting

The city is building a new community center adjacent to the pool to replace the existing Nazzaro Center. The project will also include new community pools - replacing the current Mirabella pools - and a hardscape outdoor water feature to replace the existing kiddie pool.

There will be a community meeting on the project this Thursday, June 26, at 6:30 pm at the Nazzaro.

Following the meeting in March, here are two key issues that we should seek answers to:

1. Pool sizes and capacity

The Mirabella currently features a 42 yard lap pool and a "deep" pool. The current configuration limits the total number of "bathers" (this is a BCYF term) because of the depth. Currently, the shallowest point of either pool is 3' 6" with most of the pool areas much deeper. The new plan calls for another lap pool replacing the "deep" pool with "family" pool that will allow people to walk into the water like at the beach.

At question is how big we make each of the pools.

Pool Configuration 1

• Large lap pool, small family pool.
• Capacity:
  • Lap pool: 354
  • Family pool: 167
  • Total: 521

Under this configuration, the project would build a new 42-yard Lap pool (matching the existing lap pool's length) and a smaller family pool.

Pool Configuration 2

• Large family pool, shorter lap pool
• Capacity:
  • Lap pool: 231
  • Family pool: 333
  • Total: 564

Under this configuration, the project would build a standard-length 25-yard lap pool and a larger family pool. This configuration maximizes the total number of bathers that can use the pools at any given time without reducing the capacity of lap swimmers.

2. Harborwalk extension

Preliminary designs called for extending the harborwalk from its current terminus at the basketball court behind the ballfield to the Coast Guard station. In the latest proposal, this extension is categorized as an "Add Alternate", which is a construction term that allows the contractors to include it in their bid, but doesn't require it.

There is scarce precedent to indicate that that this critical extension will ever be built if it isn't included as part of this construction project. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.