The first workshop soliciting public input on a feasibility study to build a multi-pool aquatic center at Liberty Station’s NTC Park serving the recreational needs of all Peninsulans was held Sept. 12 at Point Loma/Hervey Branch Library.
The City’s Engineering and Capital Projects Department has been working with Roesling Nakamura Terada Architects, and pool consultant Counsilman-Hunsaker, to examine the feasibility of constructing an aquatic center in Liberty Station’s existing vacant Building 619 at 2455 Cushing Road.
On Sept. 12, representatives from RNT presented two initial, preliminary design concepts utilizing half of vacant Building 619. The other building half is currently planned for conversion as a community center. Architects also passed out this survey link: https://engage.counsilmanhunsaker.com/ntc-park-aquatic-center, soliciting resident’s views, now until Oct. 4, on what they’d like to see in developing a prospective NTC aquatic complex.
“We’ve been working with the City the past year in developing this feasibility study,” Lance Timmons of Counsilman-Hunsaker told workshop attendees.“We want your feedback to take back and look at the design and cost of the pool project, which will help when we start looking at funding for it. Our goal is to get feedback from the community as to what type of facility this should be, what programs should be prioritized, and what types of uses would be appropriate.”
The NTC project as presently construed calls for constructing competition, recreational, and leisure pools with water playground features, spectator seating, and a facility with locker rooms within the currently vacant Building 619.
“This project has been under consideration for close to 21 years,” said Stephen Rodi, volunteer chair of the Peninsula Aquatic Complex Council and president of Point Loma High School’s aquatic boosters program. “Talk of a community swimming pool in Liberty Station dates to a 2001 redevelopment plan following the closure in 1997 of the Naval Training Center that once occupied the Liberty Station site. I have been trying to work with the City for the past eight years to try to get this project moving forward.
“There is such a huge need for pools in San Diego proper,” argued Rodi noting, “La Jolla High is the only (local) school that has their pool. Every other school has to use a rec center. High Tech High is right there in Liberty Station and their aquatics program has to go all the way down to Coronado to use their pool.”
After a brief presentation, RNT architects answered questions and received comments from audience members. The consensus among residents was that the entire region suffers from a lack of access to public pools, especially area schools that need them for competition. They pointed out that seniors, who have special physical therapy needs, would also be well served by public pool access.
Residents, who asked about the prospective cost of the new NTC aquatic project, and where funding would come from for it, were told that come much later after the feasibility study, and public feedback facilitating it, were completed.
A couple of residents suggested McMillin Cos., which redeveloped the formal Navy Training Center, went back on their word in not providing a public pool as promised. Byron Wear, a Point Loman and former City Council member who was in office when NTC was converted into Liberty Station, disputed that contention.
“The vision for a three-pool aquatic center came late in the reuse process ‘after’ McMillin’s agreement of $14 million to build NTC Park,” Wear said adding, “McMillin was never obligated to build a pool complex.”
Argued Wear: “The priority for larger pools is a regional priority. The NTC Liberty Station site is an ideal location for an aquatic complex for regional swim meets, and not just for Point Loma. Teaching every child in San Diego to swim and prevent drowning is a priority.”
Of Building 619, where the pool complex is to be built, Wear said: “The existing building is in bad shape and should be scraped to allow for more efficient space and layout for three pools, seating and a new building containing entryway, lockers, restrooms, pool equipment room, and lifeguard offices. The facilities could be phased in based on funding sources, which will include City (DIF) Developer Impact Funds; county, state, and federal grants along with coastal funding, foundation grants, private funds, and community fundraising efforts.”
Following the Sept. 12 workshop, Rodi called for the proposed NTC aquatic center to be right-sized. “At first glance, these concepts look fantastic, as they would appear to serve Point Loma and Ocean Beach communities nicely,” he said. “But what we have learned these past eight years is that the need for usable aquatic facilities goes far beyond our local neighborhoods. There is a huge demand from our neighboring communities, as well as throughout San Diego, to have access to a facility such as the NTC aquatic center.”
Concluded Rodi: “Unfortunately, the proposed design concepts were designed without considering this larger need and thus, are grossly inadequate for the entire region surrounding Liberty Station. These concepts would merely serve the small local community and would be quickly overrun with demand … frustrating everyone that we didn’t do a better job of planning and building for more water in the first place. We must view this facility as a regional facility and build it accordingly.”
