San Antonio Report
by Andrea Drusch
Plans to renovate the Palo Alto College pool, which has been closed since 2019, are officially cancelled.
As part of the city’s 2017 municipal bond, voters approved $5.3 million to give the 30-year-old natatorium a new roof, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning replacement and other interior and exterior renovations. Another $10 million was added in the 2022 bond to construct an accompanying multigenerational center.
On Thursday, City Council approved an ordinance deeming the 2017 proposal “unnecessary and unwise,” paving the way for the city to repurpose the $15.3 million on a new aquatic and senior center that’s expected to open in 2027.
“Once Alamo Colleges began the design process, it was determined the existing facility required extensive rehabilitation, and it would be best to demolish the natatorium and construct a new facility,” documents provided to the council stated. “The center has been closed since December 2019 due to the condition of the facility.”
The natatorium renovations are one of 47 projects from the 2017 bond that have not been completed.
Asked about the specific challenges with the renovations, Assistant City Manager Roderick Sanchez said Thursday that changes to the project were aimed more at meeting the community college’s needs.
“They really wanted this more robust, Olympic-sized swimming pool, so they wanted to pool the two bonds,” Sanchez said.
The existing facility, which opened in 1992, hosted various swim competitions, including multiple NCAA championships. Leticia De La Rosa, director of community collaborations at Palo Alto College, said the pool had met its life expectancy, and the 2017 bond money wasn’t enough to cover necessary renovations. The new pool will be the same size, a 50-meter Olympic pool, and offer the same amenities.
A sign at the Aquatic Center at Palo Alto College notifying visitors the facility is closed for renovations.
Credit: Brenda Bazán / San Antonio Report
The new aquatic center will have bleacher seating, a scoring office and press box, according to city documents. Alamo Colleges will chip in $22 million for the new aquatic center, bringing the total price to roughly $37 million.
In order to create the multigenerational center that voters approved in the 2022 bond, Alamo Colleges also will spend $14.7 million renovating an existing interconnecting space, according to the city.
The eventual 27,000-square-foot multigenerational facility will include concessions, restrooms, locker rooms and showers on the first floor, as well as multipurpose rooms on the second floor for senior services and classrooms.
“We’re still going to get both projects. They just needed to pool the money,” Sanchez said.
City Council approved the new plan unanimously and without discussion Thursday.
Acknowledging residents’ disappointment about not being able to use the pool, Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia (D4) expressed excitement about the new plan, which she called “transformational” for the community.
“We know there are residents who learned to swim at Palo Alto College. … Two of my priests used to swim there and they were really upset when when it closed down,” Rocha Garcia said. “This agreement is going to help set that project back on track.”
The Alamo Colleges District is a financial supporter of the San Antonio Report. For a full list of business members, click here.