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Steering committee narrows Willowwood Aquatic Center concept; public support strong in early engagement
Summary
Steering committee selected a preferred concept for Willowwood Park aquatic center after an open house and a public survey with about 1,800 respondents (1,300 residents). Committee narrowed slides and location choices and will return with preliminary pricing ahead of a bond referendum.
City staff and consultants updated the council on April 15 about the Willowwood Park aquatic center project and steering‑committee decisions, including concept selection, early public engagement results and next steps toward pricing and a November bond referendum.
Project staff reported an open house on March 20 that drew more than 100 attendees and a public survey taken March 20–31 with roughly 1,800 respondents; about 1,300 of those respondents identified as Marion residents. Staff summarized general public support: about 85% of Marion residents supported the aquatic center concept, roughly 83% supported dry-recreation items and 87% supported Willowwood redevelopment in preliminary materials.
The project team presented three siting and concept layouts. The steering committee unanimously supported Concept C — which places the aquatic facility on the northwest quadrant of the Willowwood site with the lap pool and diving well positioned toward the center of the park, parking to the south, a buffer to adjacent neighborhoods and dry‑recreation amenities (pickleball, mini golf) set in lower-elevation areas. The committee recommended favoring an open-body “racer” slide and a tube slide over a large boomerang-style specialty slide for reasons of cost, operational efficiency, user experience and phasing flexibility.
Committee members noted neighborhood concerns raised during the open house — principally traffic on 30th Street and noise — and said the chosen concept attempts to position noise‑generating features away from adjacent yards and preserve visual buffers. Staff said they will continue technical review of drainage, slopes and operational requirements and will present preliminary pricing on May 30. Staff also said a construction-manager-at-risk contract approval is planned and that draft bond language will be developed ahead of a possible November 4 referendum.
Upcoming engagement actions include a May 3 farmers‑market open house and continued outreach through the Marion Messenger and the project webpage. Staff said they will include cost‑recovery and a business plan update, and will present refined project scope and tax‑impact estimates to council in May and July. No final referendum or approvals were scheduled at the work session; council received the update and discussed next steps.
