Arlington County wants to spend $79 million to build a “world-class” 50 meter lap pool. This is up for vote in the Parks and Recreation bond on tomorrow’s ballot.
Am I the only person not excited about spending $79 million so that a handful of “elite” swimmers only have to do flip turns every 50 meters instead of every 25 meters like the rest of us common folk?
John Fontain said:
Arlington County wants to spend $79 million to build a “world-class” 50 meter lap pool. This is up for vote in the Parks and Recreation bond on tomorrow’s ballot.
Am I the only person not excited about spending $79 million so that a handful of “elite” swimmers only have to do flip turns every 50 meters instead of every 25 meters like the rest of us common folk?
No, I bet this one doesn't pass.
John Fontain said:
Arlington County wants to spend $79 million to build a “world-class” 50 meter lap pool. This is up for vote in the Parks and Recreation bond on tomorrow’s ballot.
2. Local Parks and Recreation: $50,553,000
This program funds Parks Maintenance Capital and provides for recurring, systematic re-investment in existing facilities to insure efficient, safe, high quality park and recreation facilities. Included are projects approved in the Park Master Plan such as the modernization of Quincy, Highview and Virginia Highlands parks. These projects include the replacement of playground equipment and athletic fields, safety surfacing, landscaping, ADA accommodations, and other capital improvements. Funding is also included for the design and construction of the Long Bridge Park Aquatics, Health and Fitness Facility and surrounding park. Features include a 50-meter x 25-yard competition pool, teaching pool, family leisure pool, therapy pool and wet classrooms / partyrooms. An indoor fitness area and community space will also be constructed, as well as surface parking, public art, and a variety of outdoor public spaces in the adjacent park. The parks land acquisition and open space program is also included in this category. The funding allows the County to support or expand recreational opportunities, protect or conserve existing open space, preserve unique land features, and/or provide additional green space in urban areas.
While still mind-bogglingly expensive and an absolute waste of money, let's not make people think that they're spending tens of millions of dollars on one pool.
Captain_Obvious said:
John Fontain said:
Arlington County wants to spend $79 million to build a “world-class” 50 meter lap pool. This is up for vote in the Parks and Recreation bond on tomorrow’s ballot.
Am I the only person not excited about spending $79 million so that a handful of “elite” swimmers only have to do flip turns every 50 meters instead of every 25 meters like the rest of us common folk?
No, I bet this one doesn't pass.
“QUESTION: Should Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $50,553,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects for local parks & recreation, and land acquisition for parks and open space?”
Bet it does.
Swag, I agree. As most people know, this facility sounds similar to the Cub Run facility that was built in Fairfax County for $20 million a few years back. I can't figure out why our proposed swimming facility would cost four times as much other than the engineering costs involved in constructing a ceiling for a 50 meter pool rather than a traditional 25 meter pool. Even that wouldn't cost four times as much. I'd rather have a few Cub Run facilities sprinkled around the County at $20 million each than one facility with a 50 meter pool at one remote spot in the County. But I guess we've got some very vocal “elite” swimmers who have the ears of the County Board so they won't have to do flip turns every 25 meters like us average people.
I'll bet it passes too. Most people will read the bond referendum question as “Do you like parks?”
The *idea* of this giant pool complex is cool but…what is the deal with Long Bridge Park ? It is in the middle of Nowhere there is only one metro a decent hike away down an old muddy-rocky 'road'….
ugg. it would nicer to have a bunch of really awesome smaller neighborhood parks than a few giant but remote ones
Swag said:
Captain_Obvious said:
John Fontain said:
Arlington County wants to spend $79 million to build a “world-class” 50 meter lap pool. This is up for vote in the Parks and Recreation bond on tomorrow’s ballot.
Am I the only person not excited about spending $79 million so that a handful of “elite” swimmers only have to do flip turns every 50 meters instead of every 25 meters like the rest of us common folk?
No, I bet this one doesn't pass.
“QUESTION: Should Arlington County contract a debt and issue its general obligation bonds in the maximum principal amount of $50,553,000 to finance, together with other available funds, the cost of various capital projects for local parks & recreation, and land acquisition for parks and open space?”
Bet it does.
yea, you're probably right, wishful thinking, I guess. I just wonder if the people who vote “yes” for this, understand where the money will come from and then wonder why their personal property taxes go up next year…
I vote public pools are gross.
In fact…
Parks: NO
Metro: NO
Neighborhood Conservation: NO
Schools: NO
LifeorLiberty said:
The *idea* of this giant pool complex is cool but…what is the deal with Long Bridge Park ? It is in the middle of Nowhere there is only one metro a decent hike away down an old muddy-rocky 'road'….
ugg. it would nicer to have a bunch of really awesome smaller neighborhood parks than a few giant but remote ones
I'm still trying to figure out how something can be 'in the middle of nowhere' yet still be inside a county of only 26 square miles.
and yet it can take several hours to traverse the county,and Long Bridge Park is isolated / insulated being bordered by a river(Potomac), and interstate highway(395) and a federal reservation (Pentagon). Even using the closet metro stop would require a rather longish walk, through some dodgy and rough roads.
FrenchyB said:
LifeorLiberty said:
The *idea* of this giant pool complex is cool but…what is the deal with Long Bridge Park ? It is in the middle of Nowhere there is only one metro a decent hike away down an old muddy-rocky 'road'….
ugg. it would nicer to have a bunch of really awesome smaller neighborhood parks than a few giant but remote ones
I'm still trying to figure out how something can be 'in the middle of nowhere' yet still be inside a county of only 26 square miles.
Given the nature of our urban county, it's population density, and high (relative) percentage of people without cars, I could see very easily how one would consider many parts of the 26 square miles of the county that aren't near metro or bus lines as the “middle of nowhere.”
John Fontain said:
Arlington County wants to spend $79 million to build a “world-class” 50 meter lap pool. This is up for vote in the Parks and Recreation bond on tomorrow’s ballot.
Am I the only person not excited about spending $79 million so that a handful of “elite” swimmers only have to do flip turns every 50 meters instead of every 25 meters like the rest of us common folk?
You are not alone. I was excited to vote against this boondoggle this morning. And these vanity projects (Artisphere, pool, trolley) led me to cast a protest vote for a Republican (Wavro) for the first time in my life.
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