Greetings, Swim Safe community!

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The aquatic center feasibility process wrapped up last month (June 2023), and we wanted to update you all on the exciting, hopeful findings!

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We will summarize the findings here on this post, but all of the detailed information from the study can be found on PenMet's website here: https://penmetparks.org/.../community-aquatic-center-and.../ .

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First of all, it was an absolute pleasure serving on this committee with so many wonderful people from our community. Representatives from groups like Gig Harbor Fire, the Peninsula School District, the City of Gig Harbor, Kiwanis, and the Tom Taylor YMCA joined us in serving on the study committee. To have such strong voices join together to discuss the importance of water safety for our town made us feel so proud to live in Gig Harbor. What a great town we live in.

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The architecture firm who did the study was very professional and thorough in their search and presentations. This firm is the same group who designed the Fircrest Pool!

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They listened to all of our feedback. We completed surveys about what each person thought the aquatic needs of our town are. At the end, the firm presented their finals recommendations for what would work for building a Gig Harbor aquatic center:

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1. The firm concluded that an aquatic facility IS FEASIBLE for our Gig Harbor area.

2. A couple PenMet properties were considered. Both Peninsula Gardens AND where the Community Rec Center (CRC) is being built (where the old driving range used to be) were deemed feasible.

3. Building an aquatic center on the same property as the CRC was decided as more cost affective and a better location due to direct access to Hwy 16 and the Cushman Trail. The mock up included adequate parking, as well as a "quad" with picnic tables and an open space that would connect the CRC (again, which PenMet is already moving forward with building), and the aquatic center (see pictures below). Combined, this would become a recreation destination for our Gig Harbor area.

4. Below are mock ups of what the basics of the aquatic center would include. *Note, these are not the final designs, just very rough drafts to give us an idea of what could be. Reflecting on our community's aquatic needs, our committee leaned towards a larger facility that would include two pools. Pool 1: a sports/lap pool with deep-end space for water polo and possibly diving. Pool 2: a "fun pool" with space for children to play, swim lessons, and possibly a lazy river, which is a necessary element for aquatic therapy and a tool for exercise for seniors.

5. The estimated cost came in at only $46 million, which was a welcomed number considering the research we have done on other aquatic centers in Western Washington (Snohomish Aquatic Center, etc.). We were expecting the number to be closer to $60 million. We have had many conversations with other aquatic centers on funding - if other towns can do it, how do we? How do we not "reinvent the wheel" when it comes to funding? The answer: funding is balanced. Other aquatic centers were built using a mix of public grants as well as private donations. We are confident in the abilities of our Gig Harbor community to make this happen.

6. After reviewing all the data, the study committee voted unanimously to move the project forward. As stated here in a recent article on Gig Harbor Now, (https://www.gigharbornow.org/.../feasibility-studies.../...) this means that all of this data will be presented to the PenMet board in September, including the feasibility study committee's blessing. It was unanimous that water safety and recreation needs to continue to be a priority for Gig Harbor residents and families.

7. Lastly, PenMet has also recently concluded their own community study, their PROS plan, evaluating what needs they are meeting, what needs they are not meeting, and what the next years for PenMet should include. Here is the link where you can download their study results: https://berrydunn.mysocialpinpoint.com/penmet-parks-wa... . The study clearly shows that a huge hole in our community is in aquatics. And the study also shows that our community is wanting aquatics.

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In summary, we are incredibly excited and hopeful about the results from the feasibility study process. We are capable of achieving GREAT things, Gig Harbor!! If all of this makes you feel excited and hopeful too, will you please send an email to info@penmetparks.org ? Share your story about why water safety and recreation is important to you, and why you support moving forward with building the aquatic center.

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Onward to achieving this dream for our community!