Planning, Housing and Parks committee concurs with Recreation CIP amendments; approves $2 million for Silver Spring Aquatic Center change orders

The Montgomery County Planning, Housing and Parks Committee agreed Feb. 24 to concur with the County Executive’s recommended FY‑26 amendments to the Department of Recreation capital improvement program, approving a package of supplemental appropriations, schedule adjustments and technical changes by consensus.

The package included a $2,000,000 FY‑25 supplemental appropriation to cover outstanding change orders and general conditions for the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center, a $2,043,000 supplemental to add the Damascus Senior Center to the recreation facilities refurbishment program, schedule shifts for multiple indoor and outdoor pool projects, an amendment for the Holiday Park net‑zero façade initiative, and a technical funding adjustment to replace the shared agency booking system used by Recreation, Montgomery Parks and the Office of Community Use of Public Facilities.

Why it matters: The committee’s approvals adjust spending timing and add funding that county staff say cover work already completed or needed to finish construction and make safety/access repairs. The projects affect high‑use public pools and senior centers and include changes that county staff say will not require temporary facility closures in some cases but will require closures in others (notably the Martin Luther King Jr. Indoor Swim Center for deck and drainage work).

Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center supplemental The committee approved the executive’s FY‑25 supplemental request of $2,000,000 to pay outstanding change orders and general‑conditions costs tied to the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center, which the packet notes opened on Feb. 24, 2024. The packet lists nine representative change orders — including coding upgrades, HVAC and pool slide revisions, ADA paver upgrades to the garage, generator coordination, revised waterproofing details, additional pool commissioning and fire alarm integration — and general conditions such as gas line and meter relocation and elevator inspections. Council staff and Executive Branch representatives said the list in the packet is illustrative rather than exhaustive.

“All of the work here related to the Rec and Aquatic Center is complete,” said Greg Austin, Department of General Services, adding that the supplemental is a “truing up” to pay work authorized and finished during construction and that none of the outstanding items will require the facility to be closed. The packet also notes that the Office of Management and Budget provided an equity impact assessment for the project.

Damascus Senior Center and recreation facilities refurbishment The committee concurred with a $2,043,000 FY‑25 supplemental to expand the Recreation Facilities Refurbishment Centers project schedule to include renovation of the Damascus Senior Center, with work expected in the FY‑25 through FY‑26 timeframe as presented in the packet. Council staff said the department provided responses to the County’s equity assessment questions; those responses were distributed to committee members during the session.

“This is a well‑loved facility,” Councilor Geronda said during discussion, and committee members signaled support for including Damascus in the refurbishment schedule.

Pools and aquatic center schedule changes The committee approved schedule adjustments for several indoor and outdoor pool projects: - Kennedy Shriver Aquatic Center (CASAC) building envelope: the amendment reduces the FY‑26 appropriation request by $192,000 to a total of $487,000 (as shown in the packet) and shifts roughly $5,000,000 from FY‑25 to FY‑26 with a smaller amount into FY‑27. The executive reported that design is complete, notice to proceed was issued in July 2024, construction is underway, substantial completion is estimated for summer 2026 and the facility will likely open to the public in fall 2026 after operations staff complete start‑up work. - Martin Luther King Jr. Indoor Swim Center renovation: the packet includes an estimated FY‑26 appropriation of $2,586,000 for remaining work, which includes replacement of the underground drainage system and pool deck work to achieve ADA compliance. Department staff warned that this project will require temporary closure of the facility while those repairs are made; committee members said they are staging projects to avoid having two major pools closed at the same time. - Indoor and outdoor pools (level‑of‑effort projects): the committee approved adjustments that shift expenditures across the six‑year CIP period. Council staff suggested clarifying whether FY‑25 and FY‑26 expenditures are allocated to specific facilities or to facility assessments; Department of General Services indicated it believes an assessment for the Olney indoor swim center is included in the budgeting and said it will confirm and follow up with council staff.

Holiday Park net‑zero initiative and other technical changes The committee concurred with a minor acceleration and technical adjustments for the Holiday Park net‑zero façade initiative. The packet said $5,000 had been spent prior to the six‑year CIP period, that the project is intended to extend the facility’s life and support Montgomery County’s greenhouse gas goals, and that the estimated construction schedule shown in the executive’s documents spans about 18 months beginning in February (as listed in the packet). The staff report noted that Holiday Park’s senior center serves more than 500 adults daily.

Shared agency booking system replacement The committee approved a technical funding adjustment for replacement of the shared online booking and sales software used by the Office of Community Use of Public Facilities, the Department of Recreation and Montgomery Parks, moving intergovernmental funding from the Parks Enterprise Fund. Council members raised operational concerns about booking confusion between agencies and asked for improved governance and community engagement around the replacement. Council member Fontaine Gonzalez said persistent user confusion and service problems mean the governance group must get stakeholders together and begin community outreach before the fall permit season.

Votes at a glance The committee registered no formal roll‑call votes in the transcript and moved forward with the packet items by unanimous consent (no objection). Key outcomes recorded in committee discussion and accepted by consensus: - Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center: approve FY‑25 supplemental appropriation, $2,000,000, to fund outstanding change orders and general conditions (approved by consensus; packet lists nine representative change orders; work reported as complete). - Recreation Facilities Refurbishment Centers (add Damascus Senior Center): approve FY‑25 supplemental appropriation, $2,043,000, to add Damascus Senior Center to FY‑25–26 schedule (approved by consensus). - Kennedy Shriver Aquatic Center (CASAC) building envelope improvements: approve adjusted schedule and funding shifts (approved by consensus; substantial completion estimated summer 2026; public opening anticipated fall 2026). - Martin Luther King Jr. Indoor Swim Center renovation: approve adjusted schedule and FY‑26 appropriation estimate of $2,586,000; project will require temporary facility closure for deck/drainage and ADA work (approved by consensus). - Indoor pools refurbishment (level of effort): approve schedule shifts and funding realignments across CIP period (approved by consensus; committee requested clarification on Olney assessment). - Outdoor pools refurbishment (level of effort): approve schedule shifts and funding realignments across CIP period (approved by consensus). - Holiday Park net‑zero façade initiative: approve minor acceleration/technical amendment (approved by consensus; packet notes $5,000 spent prior to CIP period; construction schedule listed as ~18 months beginning in February). - Shared agency booking system replacement: approve technical funding adjustment to reflect work performed prior to CIP and move intergovernmental funding (approved by consensus).

What’s next: Committee staff said departments will follow up on several clarifications in reconciliation, notably whether the Olney facility assessment is fully budgeted and any remaining line‑item detail for FY‑25 and FY‑26 expenditures. Department of General Services said it will work with the Housing Opportunities Commission and Recreation to complete outstanding Silver Spring contractual items and confirm the final accounting.

The committee adjourned after approving the packet items by unanimous consent.