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Monterey Park council selects Option B for Barnes Park pool, directs staff to pursue full design
Summary
After extensive community outreach and two Measure A planning grants, the City Council unanimously approved Option B — a 50-meter Olympic competition pool plus a 25-yard recreation pool — and directed staff to use that concept in future grant applications and to return with construction design procurement steps.
Monterey Park 99999999999999999
At a city council meeting, the council unanimously approved Option B for the Barnes Park pool revitalization project, selecting a full 50-meter Olympic competition pool paired with a six-lane, 25-yard recreation pool and directing staff to incorporate that concept into future grant applications and the next design phase.
Robert Geary, the city's director of recreation and community services, told the council the pool effort grew out of the city's parks master plan and an extensive community process that included multiple public meetings and online surveys. Consultants from Dallin Architecture and Aquatic Design Group presented three conceptual designs and said more than 1,300 respondents participated in the follow-up poll; roughly 60% favored Option B.
"Option B provides the most flexibility for our operations and programming," Geary said, noting that the city has already allocated design funds and secured competitive Measure A planning grants. Consultant Nick McGuire said the recommended plan would support competitive long-course and short-course swim, multiple water-polo practices and springboard diving, while a separate recreation pool would allow therapy and learn-to-swim programming.
Several community speakers and local school supporters urged the council to choose an Olympic-sized facility. Sharon Wu, president of the Mark Keppel High School Alliance, said a 50-meter pool would restore a key competitive training site and strengthen college recruiting opportunities for student athletes. Margaret Leung of the Friends of the Seniors Foundation and representatives of SGV Power Up Beacon emphasized broad community benefits and upcoming fundraising efforts.
Councilmembers praised the consultants' outreach and the volume of public input. Councilmember Goh seconded a motion to select Option B and to direct staff to "use the selected option for all future grant applications," and the council approved the motion unanimously.
Staff and consultants said the midstage effort now is to issue procurement documents for full construction design and to refine cost estimates. Geary told the council he will work with Public Works on requests for proposals for construction design and will return to the council with timelines and cost projections. Councilmembers noted that while design funding is in hand (including a $500,000 Measure A planning grant and a city allocation announced at midyear), the city still faces a large construction funding gap; staff cited an approximate $30 million figure for building the facility, and councilmembers emphasized the need to remain 9999999999999999999999999conservative about final costs.
The council vote moves the project into the construction-design procurement phase. Geary and consultants said they will continue community engagement during pre-construction design to refine amenities, programming, and potential locations for optional features such as a splash pad.
What happens next: staff will work with Public Works to issue RFPs for construction design, refine cost estimates, and return to council with procurement timelines and further budget recommendations.
