Marble Falls parks commission looks at aquatic center by Johnson Park, soccer field
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — Marble Falls Parks and Recreation commissioners were told the city council will examine the possibility of approving two measures involving city facilities.
Commission chairman Dave Rhodes made the announcement during the regular meeting July 8.
One referendum is to build a new aquatic center close to Johnson Park with a projected price tag of about $2 million. The other is to create an adult soccer field on Yett Street near the sewer plant with a projected price tag of $250,000 and improvements to The Greens soccer fields on Avenue K with a projected total of $750,000.
If both are approved, Rhodes said residents who are not exempted will pay an additional $6 in taxes per month or $72 per year.
“This is in the very preliminary stages of this,” City Manager Ralph Hendricks said. “It would be placed as a Capital Improvement Project. There has been no voter-approved bond at this time.”
Marble Falls Parks and Recreation Director Robert Moss said the reason staff chose the Yett site for the adult field is because of the location to the plant.
“We have treated water right there,” he said. The city could irrigate the field with the treated water.
If the measure is approved, Moss said the adult field will be used for youth soccer games, while work is done to The Greens.
Rhodes called a workshop on June 22 to pull together some numbers to give to the Capital Improvements Project committee.
Hendricks said the council will be given the information during its workshop July 9-10.
In June, commissioners wondered what kind of influence they have since they are an advisory committee to the city council. But during the council’s workshop a few weeks ago, council members learned of the parks and recreation commission’s desire for a new pool.
Moss said the council was open to exploring the possibility but asked that information be submitted to the Capital Improvements Project committee, which met in late June.
Rhodes said CIP members reached out to Moss to let him know they would discuss it but needed more information, such as projected costs and location.
“The CIP gave it the thumbs up,” Rhodes said. “We’re banking on what the community will support and something that will be a nice facility as well.”
Moss said the current pool, located at 305 Buena Vista, is a popular destination. Usually, it brings in an average revenue of $17,000. But this year, it has brought in $45,000.
That’s one of the reasons why it’s time city hall looked at building a new aquatic center, Rhodes said.
“It’s overused and virtually impossible to maintain to any standard,” he said. “We’d like to get ahead of any growth in our community.”
Moss has reported city staff is doing everything it can to keep the pool in good shape but added the water pump is a concern because of its age.
The commissioners also:
• learned the Marble Falls Economic Development Corp. approved giving $50,000 to parks and recreation for the hike-and-bike trails along Backbone Creek and $42,000 to help with the existing trail near downtown during a recent regular board meeting, EDC Executive Director Christian Fletcher said. The EDC created a community line item totaling $100,000 to assist with city projects, Fletcher said.
• watched a presentation on how aquatic centers are cost effective from former Livingston pool director Sharon Pittard.
jfierro@thepicayune.com