Is an aquatics center on the horizon for Visalia?
Visalias highly-debated, long-awaited aquatics center is back in the spotlight. Councilman Greg Collins will give a presentation during tonights Visalia Parks and Recreation meeting. It's not the first time Collins has advocated for a city aquatics center. I have been interested in trying to convince the city to build this whole aquatic center for a myriad of reasons, Collins said. The councilman said he plans to present new findings that could shore up additional money for the project. He brought the idea of an aquatics center to the table in 2017, however, the topic of a community pool had been tossed around for much longer. Collins' fellow council members were not as keen on the idea and swatted down his proposals citing construction and maintenance costs. Construction of an aquatics center could run between $12 and $15 million, according to a 2019 report prepared by the Visalia Parks and Recreation Department. Operations and maintenance could cost an additional $600,000 annually. Collins believes that having an aquatics center in Visalia could create financial opportunities for the city and give local athletes a closer venue to practice as well as bringing state an. Student-athletes are forced to travel outside of the city to compete and practice, deferring funds to other towns as a result, according to Collins. The city benefits from people coming into the community and staying a couple of nights and attending these events, he said, referring to booth swim competitions and water-polo events. The aquatics center would also be open for public use as well, expanding its use beyond that of athletes. Swim lessons for first-timers and classes for seniors may be a possibility if the center is approved. Collins will give his presentation at 5:30 p.m. today during the Visalia Parks and Recreation Commission virtual meeting. Those interested in listening live can listen here: 669-900-9128, meeting ID: 993-3519-5323.