Letter to PLHS Boosters
November, 2017
Dear Aquatic Booster Parents, Friends and Supporters,
For many years the Point Loma High School has been looking for an adequate pool for competitive swimming and water polo. In February of this year, I helped form the Peninsula Aquatic Complex Council (PACC), a local coalition of our aquatic partners to pursue the completion of a pool in the Peninsula area as quickly as possible using resources from the San Diego Unified School District and the City of San Diego. The PACC will be expanded to include more stakeholders in 2018.
The Congressman Peters, School District staff and the City of San Diego staff and attorneys, with our full support, have focused on the NTC/Liberty Station site near the foot of Womble Road. The site is already part of the NTC Precise Plan and Local Coastal Plan approved by the City Council and other agencies in September 2001. Work has already been completed, including:
· Professional studies conducted by Counsilman Hunsaker, (http://www.counsilmanhunsaker.com/a nationally known aquatic facility planning group that designed the 1996 Olympic Atlanta Aquatic Facility).
· Master Environmental approvals including certification by the California Coastal Commission.
· Parking has already been constructed in anticipation of the future aquatic complex.
· Drafting of a letter to go to the Department of Interior for approval of the project.
Mayor Kevin Faulconer, Councilmember Lorie Zapf, School Trustee Dr. Michael McQuary, Congressman Scott Peters and state officials have all agreed to push for approval of the vision.
The concept includes the funding by the San Diego School District for at least one initial Phase I pool with adequate changing rooms and support facilities. The City of San Diego has agreed to consider funding the operation of the facility at no cost to the district in exchange for public recreational access. Additionally, the City of San Diego has identified $1.1 Million for the rehab of the adjacent Building 619 for recreational and community use and an additional $1 million to assist in the pool construction. We envision additional pools in Phase 2 and Phase 3.
Recently, School District officials met with PACC and provided a briefing on the framework of Project Management process and timeline, including the following milestones:
· Obtain letter from Department of Interior (expected in 6 months)
· Breaking ground (possible within 24 months)
· Completion of Phase 1 Pool (possible in 3.5 years)
Please be patient as the PACC is working with government on many levels. We are excited about this collaboration. Please feel free to contact us to join in supporting our efforts, or visit our website, PeninsulaPools.org for more information
Sincerely,
John Seymour, Chair
Peninsula Aquatic Complex Council
PeninsulaPools.org