Local government

Ontario pool plan advances as possible Lions Park conversion stirs controversy

The Ontario Recreation District has struck a deal with city officials to explore changing the location for a community pool at Lions Park.

But the deal carried a warning that talk of converting an old pool into a gymnasium couldn’t be done without tearing up half of the city park for more parking.

Now, recreation district officials will consider whether to build an open-air pool on a small piece of park land. The district is in a financial bind after costs to revitalize the existing pool building came in too high. District officials said a rough estimate indicates a new pool on city land could be $1 million less.

The recreation district is separate from Ontario city government, operating with its own budget and staff. The district owns facilities it now uses, including the skate park, splash pad and district headquarters, and the closed pool building.

District officials want to look at adding a patch of city land for a pool. The ground would be adjacent to the splash pad.

But much of the discussion at the Ontario City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 14, focused on “what if” a gymnasium was added.

City Manager Dan Cummings said even refurbishing the old pool would increase the need for parking. He proposed that if the original pool project advances, the city put in a strip of parking along the east side of the park, behind homes on Southwest 7th Street.

He explained that converting the old pool into a gymnasium would trigger a larger parking requirement.

He gave councilors a map showing what it would look like to more than double the parking available at the recreation district. The city calculated the recreation district would need 190 more parking spaces to comply with parking requirements.

Cummings said there was only one way to meet the requirement for gymnasium parking – convert nearly half of Lions Park into paved parking.

The park has increasingly been used as a venue for major community events from America’s Global Village to the Tater Tot Festival.

“People would be so angry” if such a large parking lot were put in, said Mayor Debbie Folden.

John Breidenbach, president of the Ontario Area Chamber of Commerce, said the business group supports a new pool because it “can bring in business.”

However, the expansive parking is a non-starter, he said.

“We’re not OK with that,” Breidenbach said.

Cummings said the city couldn’t waive parking requirements for the recreation district while imposing them on Ontario businesses.

“They cannot put in a gym in that existing area without coming back to the city and addressing the parking,” Cummings said. “The city’s never approved a gym there.”

He added, “I am not sure a gym will ever work there.”

The idea of turning the old pool building into a gymnasium was raised last fall.

Andrew Maeda, recreation district director, mentioned to councilors in November that a gymnasium is a long-range goal in the city’s parks plan.

“We’re not going to explore that option,” he said.

He said the district isn’t proposing such a facility.

“We weren’t thinking about a gymnasium space,” Maeda said. “We’re still trying to get through this pool project.”

Councilors John Kirby and Susann Mills voted against giving the recreation district authority to explore a new pool location.

Mills noted that the city has contributed $250,000 and a share of lodging tax revenue to support the pool. That was to revamp the existing pool, not build a new one, she said. She noted that the recreation district would have to spend additional money for engineering a pool at a different location.

Kirby was blunt.

“I am negative for them changing their strategy,” Kirby said. “They’ve lost their vision.”

He said the recreation district should try for new bids to whittle down costs.

“If you’re short of money, go raise it,” said Kirby.

Folden and Councilors Ken Hart, Penny Bakefelt, Michael Braden and Adrianna Contreras voted for the agreement.

Plans to refurbish the Ontario Aquatic Center are on hold as officials consider a new location nearby for an outdoor pool. (LES ZAITZ/The Enterprise)

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Ontario Recreation District and city eye new site for pool

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