Albany Pool Could Be Complete as Early as May 2011

For Peggy McQuaid, the Albany Pool has been a lifetime passion. She learned to swim in it when she was 3, and worked there for 25 years as a swim teacher and administrator until she retired as director in 2005. The 60-year-old McQuaid, who was born the year the pool opened, in 1950, said it was sad to see the building demolished.

"But we will have a much better one," said McQuaid, who is on the city's Albany Pool Committee.

The pool has traditionally been one of the most beloved gathering spots in Albany. In addition to student use, it was where toddlers learned to enjoy swimming and elders maintained their health with aquatic exercise.

Construction could start as soon as September, according to the current schedule from the pool committee. The half-century-old Albany Pool was demolished last July because it no longer met modern standards. Asbestos and lead were removed from the facility, which is slated to become an eco-friendly aquatic center.

According to a March 2010 Aquatic Center fact sheet, attached as a PDF to this story, "the project will be complete in May 2011."

The project is nearing its final phase prior to breaking ground. The Division of the State Architect, which provides design and construction oversight for K–12 schools and community colleges, gave structural review comments to the Albany Unified School District in mid June, and the district plans to meet with division representatives in the coming weeks for final approval.

Once approval is granted, construction can begin. Nineteen contractors are bidding on the project, and the contract will be awarded to the lowest bidder, said school Superintendent Marla Stephenson. If approval comes by mid-July, the School Board will award the contract when it resumes meeting in August.

The project was proposed when the economy was booming, Stephenson said, under the leadership of Superintendent William Wong, her predecessor. It was largely supported by the public in February 2008, when Measure E, a $10 million bond measure to fund the pool, passed with 71 percent of the vote. The bond is scheduled to be repaid over 18 years.

But Stephenson said the economic meltdown in August 2008 made some residents question whether a $10 million pool, with an extra cost of $400,000 for issuing the bond, was a financially viable public project. The Pool Committee mulled over the plan, and concluded that a two pool facility would be more profitable in the long run.

"When we worry about the cost, we forget that educating children is most important," said Stephenson.

She said the district has set aside an extra $700,000 for construction to be safe, but predicted last week that the price tag might come in even lower than the $10 million approved in 2008 because of a "very favorable" bidding climate.

The new aquatic facility will have a 3,754-square-foot indoor pool, a 5,737-square-foot outdoor pool and three classrooms. It will serve many different groups in the community: K-12 gym classes; the Albany Adult School; children's classes; and other city residents.

The Pool Sustainability Committee reported in June 2009 that the general community, rather than students, swam most frequently in the old facility. There were only two free school-related programs, which were free, and more than 60 paid programs such as adult water fitness classes and programs for parents and children.

There has been extensive discussion by the district and the Pool Committee about the financials of the project.

Ultimately, they determined that the revenue from one pool would not cover the cost of proposed coaches, lifeguards and programs for students. According to data compiled by the district, a single pool would generate $300,000 annually based on past use. But with an increase in school-related activities (which would limit the pool's availability for community, and revenue-generating, use), this could drop to as little as $158,000.

Building two pools, however, could generate up to $406,000 a year. The district plans to have as many as 30 school-related programs each week (compared with two in the past).

Fees for the pool and its programs have not been set.  The lap swim fee for adults was $5, as of fall 2008. Other programs, such as adult swim and therapy classes, ranged from $60 to $120.

In the past, the major cost of the Albany Pool was to keep the water heated. According to the 2009 Pool Sustainability Committee report, the new pool will use solar heating to save money. There are plans to install pool covers, which could reduce annual heating costs by up to 70 percent (or $46,000).

According to the district, electricity to run the pool would still cost $10,000 per month, but the covers and solar heating would cut gas and electric costs by as much as $100,000 annually. The proposed green energy program would also cut water and chemical use.

McQuaid, who took pictures while the pool was being demolished, said she plans to chronicle it as it's rebuilt.

"The new Albany Pool is going to be a 'cradle to grave' project, because everybody can enjoy swimming," she said, adding that the pool will provide great exercise and experiences to everyone from babies in the womb to older Albany residents. 

See the Albany Pool photo gallery here, and add your photos to the group.

For more information about the Albany Pool, visit the school district's Pool Project site.