CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The city's $75 million Bond 2020 includes $1 million for the design of a new aquatic center at Bill Witt Park.
The facility would include a lap pool for swimming lessons, as well as possible competitions, and an area for children to play, said Corpus Christi District 5 Councilman Gil Hernandez. He said there is a safety factor to consider.
“We’re doing what we can as a city to make sure we provide those opportunities to have those learn-to-swim programs, because it’s very important to learn how to swim, especially in a coastal community,” he said.
The councilman also said this would be the first public pool in District 5. He said he wanted to mimic the design of the Portland pool and recreational area.
“I reached out to the mayor out of Portland about their pool: Who they used, the design, who constructed (it) and the cost,” he said.
Hernandez has a specific list of "wants" for this pool.
“It would have some heating elements, similar to Collier Pool, for use during the winter -- at least for the lap pool," he said. "The recreational area would only be used in the summertime.”
If the bond is approved in November, the design process would begin.
He also said construction costs for the project were not added to this bond, but could appear in future bond once a design is approved.
