The city of Round Rock, Round Rock ISD and the YMCA of Greater Williamson County are contemplating constructing a large indoor aquatics center on A.W. Grimes Boulevard in Round Rock. The center would be located on 10 acres of land donated by the Avery family, next to the possible future site of a new RRISD high school at the intersection of A.W. Grimes and Old Settlers boulevards.
RRISD Chief Operations Officer Bob Cervi presented a plan for the center to the district’s board of trustees at a March 3 workshop.
Each RRISD high school sends its swim team to a different city-owned or YMCA pool, according to the presentation. The Chasco YMCA pool was built in 2010 with $2 million from the city of Round Rock and $4 million from the YMCA.
An aquatics facility would allow RRISD to host eight to 10 district and regional swim meets per year, which would also attract overnight visitors and tourism to the city of Round Rock, according to the proposal.
The city and RRISD would share the cost of construction and operations; the YMCA would operate the facility and split pool hours between RRISD swim teams and the community, the proposal stated.
But Round Rock’s return on investment for the facility was not economically viable, according to a feasibility study funded in 2015 by the city, RRISD, the Avery family and the YMCA, the results of which were part of the March 3 presentation.
The study showed the project would cost about $25 million and require an annual operating subsidy of $650,000.
Missouri-based Counsilman Hunsaker, which designs and develops aquatic facilities and conducted the study, is compiling a final report and presentation. The city, RRISD and the YMCA must decide if they wish to move forward on the project, according to the March 3 presentation.
RRISD Superintendent Steve Flores said the district, the city of Round Rock and the YMCA are in discussions about the proposal.
“The opportunity to open an aquatics center is something that members of our community have been talking about for years, and our board of trustees is interested in working with our leadership and community partners to make the best decision for all our students,” Flores said.
Council Member Craig Morgan said he would like a joint meeting with the council and board of trustees to hear public input.
“The only clear thing to come out of all of this, for me, is there is a need,” Morgan said. “The question is: What does that need look like on behalf of the school district and the city, and what does that partnership look like?”
Additional reporting by Scott Thomas
The city of Round Rock, Round Rock ISD and the YMCA of Greater Williamson County are contemplating constructing a large indoor aquatics center on A.W. Grimes Boulevard in Round Rock. The center would be located on 10 acres of land donated by the Avery family, next to the possible future site of a new RRISD high school at the intersection of A.W. Grimes and Old Settlers boulevards.
RRISD Chief Operations Officer Bob Cervi presented a plan for the center to the district’s board of trustees at a March 3 workshop.
Each RRISD high school sends its swim team to a different city-owned or YMCA pool, according to the presentation. The Chasco YMCA pool was built in 2010 with $2 million from the city of Round Rock and $4 million from the YMCA.
An aquatics facility would allow RRISD to host eight to 10 district and regional swim meets per year, which would also attract overnight visitors and tourism to the city of Round Rock, according to the proposal.
The city and RRISD would share the cost of construction and operations; the YMCA would operate the facility and split pool hours between RRISD swim teams and the community, the proposal stated.
But Round Rock’s return on investment for the facility was not economically viable, according to a feasibility study funded in 2015 by the city, RRISD, the Avery family and the YMCA, the results of which were part of the March 3 presentation.
The study showed the project would cost about $25 million and require an annual operating subsidy of $650,000.
Missouri-based Counsilman Hunsaker, which designs and develops aquatic facilities and conducted the study, is compiling a final report and presentation. The city, RRISD and the YMCA must decide if they wish to move forward on the project, according to the March 3 presentation.
RRISD Superintendent Steve Flores said the district, the city of Round Rock and the YMCA are in discussions about the proposal.
“The opportunity to open an aquatics center is something that members of our community have been talking about for years, and our board of trustees is interested in working with our leadership and community partners to make the best decision for all our students,” Flores said.
Council Member Craig Morgan said he would like a joint meeting with the council and board of trustees to hear public input.
“The only clear thing to come out of all of this, for me, is there is a need,” Morgan said. “The question is: What does that need look like on behalf of the school district and the city, and what does that partnership look like?”
Additional reporting by Scott Thomas
