Aquatics complex proposed for Mount PleasantPatriots Point facility has broad backing By Prentiss Findlay (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Thursday, May 22, 2008
MOUNT PLEASANT — Support is building for an aquatics center at Patriots Point that would provide a much-needed place for competitive swimming as well as a place for water therapy, recreation and emergency personnel training, officials said Wednesday. Charleston City Councilwoman Kathleen Wilson said she will present the natatorium concept Tuesday to members of the Patriots Point Development Authority. Town Councilman Paul Gawrych is a strong advocate of a swimming complex, and Charleston County Council Vice Chairman Joe McKeown of Mount Pleasant said it's an idea worth investigating. "We think it has terrific potential," said John Hagerty, authority chairman. Gawrych said the idea is that Mount Pleasant, Charleston and Charleston County would join together to make the facility happen. The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission would manage it. "It's unbelievable that the Charleston area does not have something like this," Gawrych said. The town has identified $1.5 million it would contribute to the project, he said. Gawrych and Town Councilman Billy Swails recently met with Hagerty to discuss the idea. A natatorium would include a 50-meter pool, two smaller pools and seating for 2,000 people. A piece of property near the aircraft carrier Yorktown has been identified as a candidate for a long-term lease that could provide the location, Gawrych said. A swimming complex would be an economic boost because of crowds that come from out of town for competitive swimming. Gawrych noted that the town has a problem with declining revenue because of sharply reduced demand for building permits. "The future is tourism," he said. Wilson is an endurance swimmer whose accomplishments include being the first South Carolinian to swim the English Channel. She said the area lacks a place to hold big swim meets. A natatorium, with multiple pools and various amenities, could result in new special events, she said. "This can lead to tremendous economic benefit," she said. A 50-meter, Olympic-sized pool would be complemented by a smaller pool designated for teaching, water therapy and rehabilitation, she said. After her presentation Tuesday to the Patriots Point board, the next step is a feasibility study, she said. Reach Prentiss Findlay at 937-5711 or pfindlay@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 17 comment(s)
Posted by Thomas1776 on May 22, 2008 at 3:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"It's unbelievable"???
"This can lead to tremendous ECONOMIC benefit," she said (???)
Posted by cubfan on May 22, 2008 at 6:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Finally! When the teams around here host swim meets, it will bring in a lot of money for the area. So yes, there will be a great economic benefit. The swimmers who come to Charleston will have to sleep somewhere, eat somewhere...you get the idea. Our kids have been needing a new, safe 50 meter facility for a long time. I really hope they do this.
Posted by Early on May 22, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great ID Mt P, always forward thinking. No wonder a old small house in Mt P goes for 250k
Posted by auger on May 22, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cool! One more item checked off of the Summer Olympics venue list. What year are we shooting for? 2024, 2028....?
Posted by icbmman on May 22, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As an alumnus swimmer of Chas' summer and year-round teams, I have to say that a natatorium is WAY overdue for the metro area. Swim meets are an economic stimulus because they bring in several thousand people from across the Southeast USA, and they stay up to 3 days. For many years, Chas teams had to hold swim meets in health clubs (St. Andrews Family Center) and public pools (MLK Pool and Danny Jones pool). No money was invested to upgrade any of these facilities, and other cities around the Southeast now have state-of-the-art venues for swimming events. Chas needs one now.
I don't know about a Patriot's Point location, though. There are far suitable sites downtown and West Ashley as a more central location.
Posted by OverHere on May 22, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is something Charleston badly needs.
Maybe C of C can assist since their swim team uses a sub-standard pool downtown and already has an association with Patriot's Point.
This would be great for local kids who are competitive swimmers. Enough said.
Posted by bcreek on May 22, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a great idea for the Charleston area.
Please let it be known that this facility will benefit all people in the Charleston area. There will be therapy pools, swim lessons, exercise pools, training pools, etc.
Kayakers and scuba enthusiasts will have a place, along with divers. The list goes on and on.
Let us make sure it is done right.
These pools will have different depths and temperatures to accomodate the proper use. Folks who have been advised to take hydro-therapy will be able to in a pool that is suited to their needs.
This is an effort of the three government branches, City of Charleston, County of Charleston, and Mt Pleasant.
No one entity has the resources to do it alone and correctly.
Patriots Point is the most central location for everyone.
Thank you to all who have been working toward this goal.
Posted by ColdBeer on May 22, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
See, this just points out one of the many differences in Mt. Pleasant and Summerville/Ladson... we call our Aquatics complexes "swimming pools".
Mt Pleasant already has an "Aquatics complex". It's called the Atlantic Ocean :)
When I get home today, I may grab a cold beer and take a dip in the Aquatics complex in my back yard :)
Posted by commonsence on May 22, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Two weeks ago it was possibly needing to raise taxes and putting off CIP projects because of a "revenue downturn." Suddenly, they have identified 1.5M for a third public pool. Sounds like TOMP officials may have graduated from the Al Parrish School of Accounting. TOMP residents will be paying twice for this - town taxes and county.
Posted by eyfigueroa on May 22, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Coldbeer: speaking as a former Ladsoner and current Summervilleian I must agree with you. Apparently our country behinds are out of step with the rest of the world.
I'se got a cement pond to use for my 'aquatic activities'. Beens good enuf fo' us!
hee hee hee
Posted by KidYendor on May 22, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I remember in the old days of going to swimming pools at air bases and hotels with deep ends, high dives, and sunshine. Now the pools are five feet deep with "no diving" painted on the concrete. Many people don't know how to swim. Swimming at hotels today means getting on the tube and riding the three feet deep lazy river. The downfall in swimming pools was because of the onslaught of frivolous lawsuits. The downturn in tourism is related to our soon to be $4 gallon gasoline.
Posted by suec on May 22, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No one teaches swimming anymore. Kids learn by being on a "swim team".
Posted by zoomru on May 22, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All points are valid.....
icbmman....dead-on! I know Mt. Pleasant people(soccer MOMS) don't want to cross that bridge every practice, but hopefully COMMON SENSE HEADS will prevail. It obviously needs to be centrally located ....and the St Andrews area needs the "SHOT" in the ARM!! If its a MAJOR..I mean MAJOR complex..it needs to be in the North Charleston Area near the convention Ctr. Sorry Mt. P! But its the Truth! Central to all cities involved. Preferably near the FUTURE elevated mass trasit station!! Are you going to have all these other swim teams coming all the way over to Mt. Pleasant? What about the visiting immigrant swim team from Remount and N. Rhett school of hard KNOCKS? I don't know about their driving skills when they don't even have permits? We want our "visiting" workers to have equal access? Don't we?
Posted by Tammie on May 22, 2008 at 2:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have a swamp with a playful otter in my backyard, does that count as Johns Island Aquatics?
Posted by suec on May 22, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
zoomru go take your RITILAN!! You are ALL over the PLACE!!
Posted by GG on May 22, 2008 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe if this gets built, the other rec pools in MP will have more time open for recreational swimming than they do now.
Those of us who don't swim competitively on swim teams are hard pressed to adjust our schedules to get into the MP rec pools to just swim for pleasure.
Look at this to see how many hours are devoted to swim teams already at just the Park West rec pool:
http://www.mtpleasantrec.com/downloads/p...
Posted by mrjm on May 22, 2008 at 10:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey, commonsence - you are a dumas.
The money would come from Charleston County Accommodations taxes, paid for by TOURISTS, not County or MP taxpayers.
It is a great idea, will bring in a lot of revenue, and will provide a state-of-the art athletic facility for kids and adults. Everyone is always griping about youth and crime - here is something that kids can get involved in to keep them off the streets and its healthy exercise.
Commonsence, you really need to stop sitting around in your skivvies all day, typing out whatever lame thought pops in your head. You just make your ill-informed, poop-stirring comments, without knowing what you are talking about (have you ever thought of RESEARCHING something, or just picking up the PHONE and calling your council members and ASKING where the money is going to come from?)
No - your just spew your negativity and "the government is greedy and bad" conspiracy theories. Then you move on to the next article - yeah, I see your posts everywhere, and they are all just as stupid.
Get a job.