Hobbs City reviews two preliminary Family Aquatic Center designs, staff urge quick use of $600K state design grant

Consultants and city staff presented two preliminary design concepts for a Family Aquatic Center sited on Taylor Ranch and fielded commissioners’ questions about operations, staffing and funding.

Lane Olivo, the design team lead, said the project began in June and that the team narrowed the aquatic center site to about 3–5 acres within the roughly 240-acre Taylor Ranch tract. Olivo described Concept A as a formal layout with a central splash pad, locker rooms and concessions to the left, and progressively higher-energy activities and slide areas toward the rear. Concept B is a more organic, topography-driven alternative featuring waterfalls, rock features and elevated back-of-site elements. "We kicked off the project in June," Olivo said as he outlined site visits, staff meetings and a public meeting that drew roughly 40 attendees.

The design team presented a prioritized amenities list drawn from stakeholder and public meetings: slide towers, a flowrider, wave pool, open swim areas, children's…