Greenbelt City Manager Josué Salmerón hosted a Town Hall on Thursday, January 30 to answer questions and address concerns about upcoming repairs to the indoor pool at the Greenbelt Aquatic & Fitness Center (GAFC). The Town Hall served as an informational follow-up to the city council worksession on January 22 (see the January 30 issue).
Director of Public Works Brian Kim, Recreation Director Greg Varda, Assistant Director of Recreation Andrew Phelan, GAFC Director Stephen Parks and City Councilmembers Jenni Pompi and Amy Knesel rounded out the panel. The council chamber, live and virtually, buzzed with members of the community, many of whom are associated with the Greenbelt Municipal Swim Team (GMST) – Go Barracudas!
Project Scope
Kim outlined the scope of the construction project – structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and retiling of ~3,000 square feet – scheduled to run 120 days. By planning for closing the indoor pool from April 7 to September 28, the project team has built contingency and flexibility into both the work scope and budget in case any additional unseen damage is revealed.
The fitness wing and locker rooms will remain open, with normal hours.
Varda, Phelan and Parks each stressed their hopes that the outdoor pool will open earlier in the season than usual, with longer hours each day, but that depends on yet-to-be-made Prince George’s County Health Department decisions.
Resident Tom LeaMond asked about the usable life of the planned construction. Kim replied that these project repairs should last 15 to 20 years.
Community Spirit
Pools and recreation have been at the center of community-building since Greenbelt’s beginning, as gathering places where residents can meet and play. Many residents use the pools daily and seasonally, for health, therapy, fitness, learning, sport, relaxation and fun.
Varda stated, “We know how important the pool is to the community – many different users.” The project planners are strategizing to offer “something for everyone – what they like or need to do best.”
Parents, coaches and former swim team members credited the swim team ethos for nurturing community connections and civic engagement in the young folks whose lives it touches.
Current city leadership responsible for planning this project emphasized a spirit of cooperation in this period of transition. Christine Nickel, GMST treasurer, added, “We want to work with you guys, we’re not trying to say swim team members are the only people who have a stake in this – we just need to know how to help you.”
Salmerón referred to the uncertainty of the current status at this point in the project. “I’m sure it has been inducing anxiety.” The planners have been “exploring options – and considering, finding a balance – where we can figure out a way to work” for all the community stakeholders.
Pointing to the complexity of that balancing act – serving all the members of the pool community, strategizing safety, liability and sharing space – Varda assured the audience, “You’re not going to lose the pool. We’re going to figure it out, we’re just not sure what that looks like at the moment. We’re going to be resilient.”
After listening to questions and answers, LeaMond pointed to the “good synergy – expressing needs and working to meet needs” between the planning team and the user groups of the pool.
Passholders, Admissions
Daily fees will not rise seasonally this summer. Year-long and summer passes continue to be the most economical options for both resident and non-resident patrons.
GAFC passholders will be offered a range of choices during the closure and construction period. Membership for pool-only people can pause during the closure, and expiration dates will be extended. Once the outdoor pool opens, those passholders will be given 30 days to decide if they want to swim outside or pause their membership.
Retaining Staff
Varda praised Parks and the “marvelous” lifeguarding staff of the GAFC. He asserted that summer lifeguards will be hired, as well as retaining existing guards and managers. The project team is anticipating full staffing for a hoped-for early completion of the project, and the possibility that both pools will be open in late summer.
Parks reinforced that lifeguards are recruited, trained and hired year-round. Lifeguarding classes can be held anytime there is a cohort of recruits.
Project Page
The city has built a webpage for the project at https://tinyurl.com/6bbc8hfj that will include a regularly updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section. Additional questions can be emailed to indoorpoolproject@greenbeltmd.gov.
