FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Who will benefit from the new pool?
A: Although the pool has been designed to appeal primarily to kids, it has also been designed to meet the needs of the entire community from toddlers to seniors. There is something for everyone with things like: [insert project specific features]. We will be developing new programs and activities to serve all ages. Families especially will find the new features to their liking, from private family dressing room to the options available for all family age levels. The business community will also benefit as recreation opportunities are one of the three most important reason new industry and business are attracted to a community. This facility will also attract participants from surrounding communities.
Q: Why is a new facility needed?
A: The Sunnyside Swimming Pool was first constructed in the 1930’s. Since then it was renovated in the 1980s and saw another renovation in 2003. The pool’s shell is in relatively good condition but the design of the pool is really outdated and doesn’t meet all the needs of the community. There are many surrounding towns that have built or improved upon their aquatic facilities and are attracting others to their facilities. Atlantic needs to compete with these towns and improve their facility to attract those people back to Atlantic and to provide an aquatic facility to meet the needs of everyone in the community.
Q: Why not build a year-round facility?
A: Indoor pools are much more expensive to build. Studies show that the use of an indoor pool, especially during cold weather months, is not enough to justify the additional costs. Also, an indoor facility is not an inviting place on a hot summer afternoon and doesn’t provide the entertainment value that an outdoor facility does. Keeping that in mind, Atlantic currently has an indoor facility provided by the YMCA.
Q: How many people will the pool employ?
A: Staffing of the pool should result in approximately around 15-20 summer jobs.
Q: Will local construction businesses have the opportunity to bid?
A: Yes, the design will be done in such a way as to ensure local contractors have an opportunity to bid on the project and its components.
Q: Will the pool be accessible to disabled patrons?
A: The parking, sidewalks, bathhouse and pool are fully handicapped accessible.
Q: Will the pool last a long time?
A: The pool has been designed to be extremely durable, so that it will last for many decades with minimal maintenance costs. In the planning process we plan to create another pool with depths of 0 to 3.5 feet to serve the young population. The existing pool’s deep end and lap swimming will be left as is. When the older pool becomes obsolete then we can either repair that or remove it completely.
Q: If I wouldn’t use the pool, why should I vote for it?
A: A municipal swimming pool provides a healthy, positive recreational alternative for the young people of our community, whether they’re your children, your grandchildren, or the kids down the street. Property values will be enhanced. Children and adults who don’t know how to swim will have an opportunity to learn water safety. There will be special programs for toddlers, for teenagers, and for adults. We will all benefit from a municipal swimming pool whether we actually swim in it or not.
Q: What would an aquatic center accomplish?
A: This aquatic center can potentially accommodate a number of recreation programs such as swim team, swim lessons, private parties, special events such as a Dive-In Movie, family swim, exercise classes and much more. It can also give the youth of the community a place near home to work during the summer as lifeguards, concessions attendants, and entry gate attendants. Groups would be able to rent the facility after hours for private parties and during open swim time for birthday celebrations.
Q: Where are we in the process?
A: The committee has completed the initial stages of the planning process and have a concept to present to the public. We hope to receive feedback on the project to see if any changes or considerations need to be made for the project plan.. By completing a conceptual plan of what a future aquatic center might look like, our consultants are able to assist us in developing construction cost estimates and operating cost estimates. The committee has used this information to develop ballot language to take the plan to the Atlantic voters in June of 2019. If the issue passes, then residents would see construction towards the end of 2019 and with a completed date towards the middle of 2020.
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Q: What will happen to the existing facility?
A: The plan will be to utilize most of the existing facility in the renovation plans. When the old portions of the pool becomes obsolete and in disrepair down the road. We can repair, replace, or remove those pieces without disturbing the new renovated areas.
Q: Will admission prices increase?
A: Admission prices may rise but will stay within the affordable amount for the community of Atlantic. These prices will remain competitive with area aquatic centers and be adjusted for the demand.
Q: How many lifeguards will the new facility require?
A: At full capacity, at least 8 guards will need to be on deck to cover all the zones and 1 guard serving to serve as relief. Then there will be a worker for the concessions and for the front desk. Which makes a total of 11 employees at full capacity
Q: How long will the pool be open?
A: The pool will keep the same hours. Extended hours will be for special events, parties, or if there is a high demand in attendance to warrant on extension in hours.
Q: Will there be a place for private parties?
A: The old bathhouse could be used for private large group parties during the season. There is also space for a couple of private canopies for smaller group parties or get-togethers.
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Q: Does the facility have the capacity to hold competition meets?
A: The 6 lane lap swimming pool will still be in place to hold competition meets. Sunnyside typically hosts 3 meets during the summer.
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Q: What’s wrong with the current facility?
A: The current facility is outdated with nothing exciting for its patrons. The pool also only has a small area for kids and families to use. This area is the most popular spot and is crowded during the summer season leaving the rest of the pool fairly empty.
Q: What are the benefits of a renovation vs building new?
A: Our current pool’s shell is in relatively good shape and renovation would be a cheaper option than building new. Although there are benefits to building new also.
Q: How much will it cost?
A: The renovation plan in place currently will run around $4.5 million as to a new facility will run about $5.4 million.
Q: How will it affect my taxes?
A: This bond will raise residential taxes $0.81 per $1000. Business and Commercial property will be $1.30 per $1000. The table below gives an example.
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Q: How long will it take to pay off?
A: 20 years
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Q: Would construction cost the community a swim season?
A: No, we can stagger the construction away from the swim season. There may be construction still happening during the swim season but the current pool would remain open for its operation.
Q: When do you plan to open the new facility?
A: 2021
Q: Will non-residents pay a higher admission?
A: This is something we would like to look into and compare what other communities our doing. We feel with this pool being designed and financed through the Atlantic community that there should be a difference in rate.
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Q: Will you have family passes and punch cards?
A: We will still offer family season passes along with punch cards.
Q: What about just building a splash pad or spray ground?
A: A splash pad is a great idea for the community, for a small community it is a good alternative for an outdoor aquatic center. The scope of use for a splash pad is more targeted towards children and there will still be maintenance and bills for a facility of the nature with little or no source of revenue.
Q: Will you have any special events organized?
A: We plan to organize special promotions and organized events to drive attendance and entertain the community. Examples of this could be from Aloha nights, family swim hour, doggie dips, dive-in movies, or various themed pool parties.
Q: Will swim lessons increase/decrease, or be more expensive?
A: Swim lessons will be partnered with the YMCA and prices will be determined by what they currently charge. The advantage would be to have an additional facility to offer those lessons.
Q: What type of concessions will be available?
A: Concessions will be available at the new facility. We plan to expand the options to help drive concession sales. We currently will be serving nachos, hotdogs, pretzels, Chill and cheese additions, various ice cream treats, snow cones, soft drink beverages, and candy.
Q: How long will the renovated facility last? When will the lap pool need to be replaced?
A: The facility is designed so when the older portion of the pool becomes non-repairable or obsolete that it can be removed or replaced without disturbing the newly built areas. A typical facility should be evaluated every 10 years. Those evaluations help determine the needs for a facility to function to its full potential.
Q: How will the facility be funded?
A: The goal is to raise close to $800,000 through donations and grants and then work on a bond for $3.7 million that would require a vote from the citizens of Atlantic. This bond vote could come as early as June 2019.
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Q: Where will the facility be located?
A: The current plan is to renovate the current pool at its location at Sunnyside Park. If the community would benefit more from a new facility at a new location that could be a potential option. Currently though, this is a renovation plan.
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Q: Why do we need so many features?
A: These features adds a variety of fun elements that would keep patrons entertain during their many visits to the pool. These special amenities help attract visitors to Atlantic and help drive attendance. The features also are meant to suit everyone in the community and not a specific age group.
Q: How do you know what to include in the facility?
A: We have set forth surveys throughout the pool season, talk to a focus group with people with different walks of life, and receive feedback through some of our social media outlets. After talking to the focus group and receiving responses via pool surveys and social media we came up with a list of needs and amenities that would be included into the pool design. This design was developed by WatersEdge Design with the help of the Sunnyside Pool Steering Committee. We went through various design concepts to come up with the current plan you see today. This plan we feel fits best for our community. We want to hear what you think, or what you would like to see differently. We want your voices to be heard.
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Q: Are there features for seniors and very young children?
A: There are features fit for the whole community! The shallow pool will include spray toys, a play structure, family slide, and playful floatables. The pool will have a heater to accommodate the senior population and features of lounging areas, and a current channel for them to enjoy with other ages. Also for the ages from 5th grade to high school, the lap pool will include a climbing wall, diving board, log roll, water walk, basketball hoop, and volleyball net to be sure everyone, young and old, has amenities tailored towards them.
Q: Will the pool be heated?
A: Yes the pool will be heated with brand new heaters.
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Q: Are there ways to make the facility more “green” or energy efficient?
A: We will practice common recycling in the day to day operation. We can also explore into the manufactures that use recycled materials for their products.
How many past memberships have been sold in the past? Family? Single? Do a trend of the past 5 years.
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