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District begins planning for community aquatic center, cites community interest
Summary
School leaders put an aquatic center on the district's five-year facilities plan and said early feasibility talks with FDLE are under way; a district outreach coordinator said the community has expressed strong interest.
The school district placed a community aquatic center on its five-year facilities work plan, Superintendent Dr. Bennett told the board on June 23 as the district begins early feasibility talks.
Dr. Bennett said the district is "in the initial planning stages of exploring development of a community aquatic center" and identified a preliminary location behind the home-side football stands at the current high school stadium. He said the district is consulting with FDLE as it evaluates whether the site and project are feasible.
Why it matters: board members said a local pool would expand swim lessons, support student athletics and provide community recreation in an area that currently lacks a public pool. Board members described swim instruction as a safety issue for children who do not have regular access to pools.
In the public comment period, Ashley Brown, the district's community outreach coordinator, said she was "really happy to hear about the aquatic center" and noted that the facility had been raised by residents at a recent comprehensive planning meeting.
No funding or schedule was announced. Board members and staff framed the center as an element of long-range facilities planning rather than an immediate contract or appropriation; the superintendent said the district will keep the community informed as planning progresses and more details become available.
Next steps: the district will continue design and feasibility work and coordinate with state and local partners before bringing specific proposals or funding requests back to the board.
