Swimmers line the Cascade Swim Center pool in Redmond during an event in 2015. (Bulletin file photo)

The Redmond Area Park and Recreation District is exploring the possibility of a new aquatic center and is looking for input from the community.

A new facility would add much-needed pool space to a city that has just one public pool, where sports teams and swimmers compete for limited space.

The park district is conducting a study that mirrors the questions in a feasibility study done by the city in 2013. Feedback so far has been positive, said park district Executive Director Katie Hammer.

“We’ve been discussing for years the need for a new aquatic center, and we want to make sure that the results of the city’s original study are still relevant,” Hammer said. “Most people are supportive of an update and understand the need for it.”

The park district worked with the city and the Downtown Urban Renewal Advisory Committee in previous years, and the results of the study commissioned by the city in 2013 estimated costs up to $30.1 million for a facility spanning 72,000 square feet.

The city has $7.5 million in urban renewal funds allocated for a family recreation facility. If the park district decided to coordinate with the city on the project, Hammer said the money would start construction and the remaining balance would be funded through a bond.

The city’s Downtown Urban Renewal Advisory Committee’s previous hope was to bring a new recreation center to the downtown area. The park district’s current study will take a look at current operating and construction costs and the needs and amenities desired.

“Our original plan in 2011 was to bring families and seniors and other groups to the downtown core,” said Chuck Arnold, Redmond’s economic development and urban renewal manager. “We’ve kept regular dialogues with the parks department and if their study leads to a feasible project, we have the funds allocated for it. We are just waiting to play our participating role in the project.”

Other local interest groups include water-sports teams from both Redmond high schools, which see pool practice time and event space very limited, said Joseph DeLeone, Ridgeview’s boys water polo coach.

“It would give kids more time to practice,” he said. “Right now, schedules are so tight and we share one pool so it really rushed us for time. There’s only so much conditioning you can do before you have to throw in the fundamentals of water polo in an hour of practice time.”

The Cascade Swim Center — Redmond’s current aquatic center and only public pool — opened in 1979 and has since operated at capacity a majority of the time, leaving very cramped space for competitions such as swim meets or the Redmond Jamboree, a water polo tournament held in August that draws from teams across the Northwest.

“This would give us the potential to have lap swimming and recreational swimming at the same time,” Hammer added. “I’m really excited about the possibility of programming more.”

Redmond residents, business owners and other interested parties are invited to a public forum to provide input on the possibility of a new recreation center. The forum will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Redmond Early Learning Center, 2105 W. Antler Ave.

While still in the early stages of planning, Hammer expects results from the study in November, and a bond measure could be put on the ballot in spring 2019.

— Reporter: 541-383-0375, acolosky@bendbulletin.com