Pool plans developing at the Y
By Tom Libassi
During the past seven months, the South Brunswick Family YMCA Board of Directors has been working to finalize plans for the new indoor pool. While the planning and design work is ongoing, the board and I wanted to provide general information and a brief update on the overall progress.
Middlesex County awarded the South Brunswick Family YMCA a $3 million grant to build a full-size indoor pool. A full-size pool is defined as a six-to-eight-lane lap pool, either 25 meters or 25 yards in length. In addition, the new indoor pool will require a men’s and women’s locker room as well as expansion of the existing parking lot.
A small committee was formed to discuss the design of a pool that would meet the needs of the YMCA members, community and high school swim team. With the committee’s input and subsequent research and discussion by the board, the Y is moving forward with a pool that reflects a long term view of the needs of everyone.
The current plan reflects the following:
Two-phase project
Phase 1: eight-lane lap pool with locker rooms and additional parking
Phase 2: A family fun leisure pool with a wading area, zero entry and slides
The Y has retained an architect and a pool-design company, and has begun developing the pool design and facility layout. We are nearing an agreement with a professional fundraising firm to complete a feasibility study. Based on the results of the study, we anticipate moving forward with a capital campaign to ensure the new pools fully reflect the needs of the Y members, community and high school swim team.
The Board of Directors and staff are excited about the process and we are dedicated to a fairly aggressive time table.
Ideally, the Y would present a master site plan to the Zoning Board for approval in late 2007 or early 2008. The feasibility study is expected to begin in late January or early February, with a Capital Campaign to begin in early summer.
Meanwhile, in the spring we envision submitting the pool construction documents for bid. In a perfect world, construction on the eight-lane lap pool, locker rooms and expanded parking would begin in late 2008.
These are exciting developments requiring a significant amount of time, effort and dedication on behalf the Board of Directors and Y staff. We have talked with a variety of professionals, other YMCA executives in New Jersey and solicited opinions across a wide spectrum of individuals.
We fully understand the enormity of the project and realize that even with perfect planning and good intentions, construction timelines always seem to shift.
Thank you for your continued support and patience as the Y continues to grow!
Tom Libassi is the executive director of the South Brunswick Family YMCA. His phone number is 732-329-1150, ext. 205.