With a grand vision called "Let's Play Irving: Elevating Aquatics and Recreation," Irving's leadership aims to bring about remarkable enhancements to numerous aquatic and recreational facilities. This ambitious endeavor encompasses four distinct projects, the centerpiece of which involves the construction of Irving's inaugural multi-generational mixed-use recreation and aquatics community center, designed to cater to the diverse interests of all individuals.
Let's take a closer look at the four projects and the bold vision of the "Let's Play Irving: Elevating Aquatics and Recreation" initiative:
-
Lively Pointe Youth Center: This project involves demolishing the pool at Lively Pointe Youth Center. In order to gather input and ideas for future amenity options, Irving teenagers are encouraged to share their suggestions by emailing their contact information to PlayIrving@CityofIrving.org. Planning for the new amenities will take place from summer 2023 to 2024.
-
Lee Park Recreation Center: The existing pool at Lee Park Recreation Center will be demolished and replaced with a new one. The completion of this project is expected in the spring or summer of 2025.
-
Senter Park Recreation Center: The plan for Senter Park Recreation Center involves rebuilding and enclosing the pool to create a natatorium. This project is scheduled to be completed in the spring or summer of 2026.
-
Mustang Park Recreation Center: A new multi-generational aquatic and community center will be built at Mustang Park Recreation Center. The anticipated opening of this facility is set for the fall of 2026.
Bold Vision
The overarching vision of the "Let's Play Irving: Elevating Aquatics and Recreation" initiative is to enhance the aquatics and recreational facilities in Irving by implementing these four projects. The objective is to create a mixed-use recreation and aquatics community center that caters to individuals of all ages and interests. The vision emphasizes the importance of providing something for everyone in the community.
Estimated Project Funding
The City Council has authorized a funding strategy that will not impact the tax rate. A total of $92 million has been earmarked for these projects, ensuring that existing capital improvement projects will continue to be fully funded. It's important to note that the cost for future amenities at Lively Park has not been specified at this time.
Public Input
The City of Irving has launched a community engagement platform to gather input and ideas from residents. The platform includes a survey, community forum, and ideas wall. It will be accessible until August 15. Additionally, Irving teenagers are specifically invited to contribute their thoughts and shape the future amenity options for Lively Park by contacting the provided email address.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the funding breakdown and where is project funding coming from?
Funding for all four projects is currently estimated, and final project numbers will not be available until the facilities have been designed and the city goes to bid for construction.
Project Cost Estimates
- $92 Million (estimated)
- Lively Pool: $49,890 (demolition only, amenity replacement costs to be determined)
- Lee Pool: $7 million
- Senter Natatorium: $25 million
- Mustang Recreation, Community & Aquatic Center: $60 million
Funding Sources, Definitions & Breakdown
- General Obligation Bonds: The City Council has approved the issuance of long-term debt through certificates of obligation, totaling $10 million.
- Non-Bond Capital Improvement Program: These funds, amounting to $17 million, will be used from cash reserves of operating funds. They are considered pay-as-you-go funds and will be used instead of issuing long-term debt.
- American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA): The city has received a federal funding grant of $2 million through the ARPA. This grant is intended to compensate for revenues lost during the COVID-19 pandemic and can be used for projects and equipment that the city wouldn't be able to fully or partially fund otherwise.
- Unallocated Non-Bond Capital Improvement Program: This refers to operating savings that are transferred to the non-bond Capital Improvement Fund for one-time projects. In this case, $1 million has been allocated from residual amounts left over when a project comes in under budget. These funds can be reallocated to other projects.
Will the funding for these projects impact the tax rate?
The funding strategy for the projects has been authorized in a way that will not impact the tax rate. The City Council has ensured that the $92 million allocated for the projects will not impose any additional burden on taxpayers.
Are there any other sources of funding for the projects?
The main sources of funding mentioned above are the General Obligation Bonds, Non-Bond Capital Improvement Program, ARPA grant, and unallocated non-bond Capital Improvement Program. These sources cover the majority of the project costs. However, it's possible that additional funding may be secured through partnerships, sponsorships, or other avenues to further support the initiatives.
How will the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding be allocated?
The ARPA funding is a federal grant provided to the city to compensate for revenue losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. A portion of this grant, amounting to $2 million, will be allocated towards projects and equipment that the city otherwise wouldn't be able to fully or partially fund. The specific allocation of these funds to the "Let's Play Irving" initiative will depend on the identified needs and priorities within the aquatics and recreation projects.
How did this plan come about?
At the May 17, 2023 Budget and Strategic Planning meeting, City Manager Chris Hillman presented a proposal for the future of aquatics and recreation to the Irving City Council, who unanimously supported moving forward with the plan.
What is the state of the existing pools at Lee, Lively and Senter Parks?
The state of the pools in Lee Park, Lively Park, and Senter Park is currently in poor condition. All three pools have exceeded their useful life and have multiple compliance issues. Here are some specific details about each pool:
-
Lee Park pool: The Lee Park pool was built in 1964 and has been closed since the pool season ended in 2019. The closure was prompted by various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, damages sustained during the 2021 winter freeze, and lifeguard staffing issues. An assessment conducted in May 2022 revealed significant issues with the pool, including broken pipes and valves, regulatory/code compliance deficiencies, water loss due to cracks and deterioration, old cast iron piping, filtration and mechanical failures, and safety concerns. Repairing and updating the outdated pool would require an estimated cost of approximately $5-$6 million.
-
Lively Park pool: The Lively Park pool was built in 1959 and has also been closed since the pool season ended in 2019. Similar to Lee Park pool, the closure was due to various reasons such as the COVID-19 pandemic, damages from the winter freeze, and staffing issues. The assessment conducted in May 2022 identified several issues with the Lively Park pool, including broken pipes and valves, regulatory/code compliance deficiencies, significant water loss, old cast iron piping, filtration and mechanical failures, and safety concerns. The estimated cost for repairing and updating the pool is also approximately $5-$6 million.
-
Senter Park pool: The Senter Park pool, built in 1954, has been recommended for replacement with more modern aquatic amenities. The 2019 Parks and Recreation Master Plan identified significant repairs required to maintain the outdoor amenity. Consequently, the replacement of the aquatic facility at Senter Park was approved in the 2021 bond package. Although the pool continues to operate, it incurs significant expenses, and replacement is pending.
In summary, all three pools are in a deteriorated state, with extensive repairs needed to address compliance issues, infrastructure deficiencies, and safety concerns. The cost of repairing and updating each pool is estimated to be around $5-$6 million.
