Resident urges indoor natatorium; staff say large rec-center remains long-term and costly

Amy Herewinkle identified herself during public comment and thanked swim coaches for a successful season before urging the city to pursue an indoor swimming facility.

“My name is Amy Herewinkle, and this is my daughter Adelaide,” she said. “I just wanted to take the opportunity to express my gratitude to coach coaches Tiff and Matt Williams … and I’m here for is to advocate for an indoor swim facility, an indoor pool.” Herewinkle told the meeting that the local swim team set a participation record and that more than half of regularly participating swimmers advanced to state; she said Weatherford High School is one of only two 6A teams in the state without a swim team and listed potential partners including the county, the city, the hospital district, Weatherford College and local ISDs.

In response, Jacob Kirkpatrick noted the city completed a master plan and a feasibility study several years ago that identified a large recreation center as a major investment. “It came in about 65,000,000,” he said, adding the city could not take on that cost alone and that the department continues to discuss partners and operational needs. He repeated that the item remains on staff’s radar but that timing, funding and staffing are significant barriers.

Kirkpatrick also noted alternatives and incremental steps: smaller, partner-funded projects, grant applications for targeted amenities (he said the department applied for a skate-park grant), and renewed partner outreach to determine what configurations or cost-sharing models might be feasible. No formal direction or funding commitment was made at the meeting.

The meeting’s procedural items then continued; the next meeting was announced for Oct. 24 at Cherry Park.