UP to Study Feasibility of New Aquatic Center
An indoor aquatic center at Curtis Park could be a long way off, but the idea of such a proposal already has generated some concern among University Park residents.
The UP City Council found out as much on Tuesday, when it approved spending more than $31,000 on a feasibility study with Colorado-based Ballard-King & Associates to study the viability of building the facility that would be shared by the city and Highland Park ISD.
The idea comes from a joint meeting this summer between the UP council and the HPISD board of trustees, which might eliminate its existing natatorium as part of a proposed bond election likely slated for next spring.
With land in the Park Cities at a premium, the school district entered preliminary discussions with the city about adding a facility adjacent to the existing outdoor pool at Curtis Park. It would be operated by the city but constructed by the district using bond funds.
The feasibility study will analyze the potential size of the building, along with issues related to parking, operations, and activity needs. It will include interviews with community leaders and focus groups, and culminate with a written report in November.
The council’s vote on the study included a requirement to hold a public forum on the issue in September, after residents expressed concern that the consultant wouldn’t seek enough public input.
A handful of speakers at Tuesday’s meeting didn’t like the idea because of safety, traffic and environmental issues along a busy stretch of Lovers Lane.
“This is a huge facility in a small space that will generate unnecessary traffic in an already congested area,” said UP resident Ann Burns.
A public forum is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 16, subject to consultant fees and availability.
It would seem inconceivable that the City of University Park would consider any project that would guarantee a significant increase of vehicular traffic on one of our main Residential streets and double the danger of street crossings on all four corners of U P Elementary School – endangering the lives of our children
“This …. facility (bank, apartment, YMCA)…. in a small space that will generate unnecessary traffic… in an already congested area,” said xxxxx.
This is the same standard statement that is issued with all attempts at progress in the PC. See the bank bldg at SMU, the Park Cities Y, the new Luxury apartment in Preston Center, etc. etc. When will people realize that the world will go forwad with or without them?
The question is, VAAC, when will people like you realize that not all change is progress? Buy a dictionary. Folks have the right to speak out against dumb ideas, and placing a natatorium in that particular location is a laughably ridiculous idea. Forget the impact on Lovers Lane, you;d have to widen Dickens at the very least. But that would cut into the footprint of the structure. It’s a patently stupid, stupid idea. I’m embarrassed that we’re flushing $31,000 in cash to “study” this.
I could have saved them of money , my opinion would only cost 2c!! Please don’t build it there, preserve my green space and my sunshine. Let HP use SMU’s new pool.
By the way, thanks for running this old photo shot of my son in the pool!! Brings back sweet memories.
Shall we as a community renovate the high school and adequately educate all of our children? Or, should we as a community “preserve green space and sunshine?”
I talked to one of the city council people about the thought process. At first, I also thought it was a bad idea. But afterwards, he had me convinced that it was worth an assessment. I encourage everyone to keep an open mind and at least listen. Don’t make rash judgements based on one Park Cities People blog posting, nor simply on NIMBY.
jb – Absolutely 100% we should renovate the HS and educate all our kids. These are two separate issues. Move the natatorium out of the HS – YES!!
Why we would spend 16 million to accommodate 2 dozen athlete- students is beyond me. Educate ALL our kids, no special interests here. For 16 million we could jet our swim team to some Olympic training facility.