Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Lake Worth Press Release entertaining idea of an Aquatic Park in place of our Olympic Pool

CITY OF LAKE WORTH
10 SOUTH OCEAN BOULEVARD
LAKE WORTH, FL 33460
LAKEWORTH.ORG

February 14, 2017

Contact:           Ben Kerr, Communications Specialist
Phone:             561.586.1631
Email:              BKerr@lakeworth.org  

WHAT:           CITY OF LAKE WORTH MUNICIPAL POOL CLOSURE (FOLLOW UP)
WHEN:           FEBRUARY 14th
WHERE:         CITY OF LAKE WORTH MUNICIPAL POOL

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:      

Lake Worth, Florida- In response to the dilapidation and recurring closures of the Lake Worth Municipal Pool, the City Commission requested a consultation be carried out detailing the options available to the City. An experienced aquatic consultant, Bob McCallister, was hired to undertake the assessment and his recommendations and resume are attached to this email. The full report and recommendations will be presented to the City Commission on February 21st. Below is the executive summary from the report.

“Based upon this completed study, it is the recommendation of the Aquatic Consultant that renovations and improvements to the existing Aquatic Facility at Lake Worth Beach would not be cost effective nor serve the Lake Worth community and visitors to the best interest of the City of Lake Worth. 

It is the professional opinion of the Aquatic Consultant that this Aquatic Facility be closed until the bathhouse and filter room are totally rebuilt due to exposing the public and staff to the present hazardous conditions.

This report clearly identifies the need to demolish and rebuild the bathhouse and filter room.  In addition, there are major repairs and modifications needed to the pool structure and filter system.  These items alone will cost approximately $2.8 million and will not substantially increase the aquatic facility’s current use nor will the annual revenue increase.

Converting the 50-meter pool into a shallow water entry pool with interactive water features and amenities may increase the pool’s attendance at a cost of additional $1.2 million.  With the addition of architect/engineering and pool designer fees, a contingency fund of 5% and FF&E budget of $100,000 the total project approaches $4.6 million.

Further, the Aquatic Consultant recognizes that during any renovation project there may be some unforeseen problems during the renovation and/or future problems with what remains regarding the old 50-meter pool.

It is the Aquatic Consultant’s professional opinion that it would be a better decision for the City to totally rebuild a new family water park with lap lanes on the same footprint location.  Use the same footprint with all the water features in this report and possibly add more features, such as a lazy river.  This could be done for $4.5 - $5 million and would be a better use of the funding, than to try to save one end of the existing 50-meter pool.  This new aquatic facility will have the potential to be self-supporting, as the revenue generated would cover the annual operational expenses.

Finally, it should be noted that a water park facility of this nature and at this location would require at least 300 additional parking spaces.  This may require a new parking deck adjacent to the water park.  This is an additional component to this report and would require additional funding above the $4.5 - $5.0 to the new water park concept for parking deck design and construction cost.”

Please note: The above summary and the attached reports represent the recommendations of the Aquatic Consultant. The City Staff and City Commission have not yet made a decision regarding these recommendations and are waiting to do so until after the formal presentation of the information at the commission meeting on February 21st. Until this date City Manager, Michael Bornstein, stands by his decision to keep the pool closed for the safety of City Staff and the General Public. The decision to reopen or more permanently close the pool will be made following the Commission meeting.

Please contact Ben Kerr, the City of Lake Worth Communications Specialist with any questions or comments.

Aquatic Assessment

City of Lake Worth Aquatic Facilities Report

Phase Two Report

Consultant's Resume

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO GET THEIR GARAGE ON THE BEACH.AN AQUATIC PARK TO ME MEANS LIVING FISH IN TANKS.IF SO WHO IS GOING TO MAINTAIN IT.THIS IS ANOTHER BUNCH OF BULL CRAP I THINK THE BOW TIE IS TOO TIGHT

Anonymous said...

WHY DON"T YOU JUST FIX OUR FUC$ING POOL????
God damn,if these morons saw a bug on the ground instead of just stepping on it they would go out and buy a cannon to shoot it!
Commissioner Maxwell and city manager Bornstein had their pants pulled down and their hineys smacked. After last nights candidate debate it was made clear that the people of Lake worth will not allow our pool to be neglected any longer,much less destroyed.
Like a previous poster stated, it is time for a citizen panel to take the pool away from the city.

Anonymous said...

Oh no, is Peter
willard back in town?

Anonymous said...

Now I know they're really nuts!

Anonymous said...

no money for roads but they get nice raises new cars and trucks and now at least 5mill to waste.maybe people will wake up and smell something besides these 3 asses

Weetha Peebull said...

...why am I not surprised?

William said...

To a carpenter with a hammer, everything needs to be nailed.

Bornstein hired this "consultant" to get the result he wanted-it's better to demolish and replace the pool, than to fix it.

This water park "expert" will be first inline for the job.

We citizens want our pool MAINTAINED and reopened!

Anonymous said...

just read the phase 2 report what a snow job now we can see why herman took money from the delray people.these other pics of pools orobably have much better maintance than we do.this would be a joke if it wasn't so dangerous for the city

Anonymous said...

that says it . Bob is experienced in building expensive water parks. of course he wants us to believe him and give him the outrageous amount of money. Btw. the restrooms are old fashioned but work. Occasionally they got plugged up, and the city plumbers came right out and fixed them. Thanks ED. Also remember, these are used by many people and toddlers, who are known to flush their shoes and etc down toilets. Some of the mothers flush diapers down them. Even the NEW restrooms at any complex are going to get backed up! The city plumbers put in new plumbing pipes and a clean out several weeks back; thats when the street outside the bathrooms was torn up. The bathrooms (aka locker rooms) are not dangerous and are in very good working condition. I should know, I worked their every day.
There is already a pool there that people like and use. The water park would eliminate the lap lanes (leaving only 4 or 5 at 25 meters only). that would put an end to the $3000 a month from ECAC using the pool. And an end to winter colleges using the pool. They bring in good money as well. They definitely needs more estimates on repairing this pool...from pool repair companies.