Site plan of the proposed Redmond Recreation Center. The Redmond Area Park and Recreation District is looking to pass a $49 million bond in November to fund construction of the new facility.

Redmond voters will have the chance to fund a recreation complex that will include multiple swimming pools, a bouldering wall, sports fields, fitness center and more.

A $49 million bond to construct the facility, planned for the area of SW 35th Street and Lava Avenue, will be presented to voters in November by the Redmond Area Park and Recreation District. A separate ballot question will also ask voters to fund a five-year levy to help fund the center’s operations.

The proposed 74,500-square-foot facility would include a new 25-meter indoor lap pool, another indoor pool with waterslides and a lazy river, a bouldering wall, a fitness center that includes an elevated track and weight room, hiking and biking trails, community rooms, recreation fields for youth soccer as well as tennis and pickleball courts.

Employees of the recreation district said it’s high time to improve facilities in fast-growing Redmond.

“As our community has grown, recreation needs have changed in our community,” said Katie Hammer, executive director of the park district. “There’s such a strain currently on (the Cascade Swim Center). It’s been insane the last year how busy our lap lanes are.”

The swim center was built in 1979, when Redmond’s population was just 6,500 people. Today, the park district serves roughly 45,000 people in Redmond, Terrebonne, Crooked River Ranch, Eagle Crest and parts of Tumalo.

According to Matt Gilman, chairman of the park district board, the current recreation center was not designed to serve the number of residents now clamoring for its services. Swim lessons are at capacity — and a long waitlist means many residents miss out.

The Redmond area is severely lacking in pool space, gym space, soccer fields, pickleball courts, workout areas and fitness classes as well, Gilman said.

“The thirst for programming and more activities is obvious from the community,” he said. “People want these things.”

The bond would cost taxpayers $23.35 per $500,000 of assessed property value each month. The levy, meanwhile, would cost $12 per $500,000 of assessed property per month — about $54 a year for its five-year duration.

Park district residents would receive a 30% discount on facility use, classes and more. There will also be options for punch cards as well as monthly and annual passes for repeat visitors.

Redmond City Councilor Cliff Evelyn noted that it’s important to have a safe place for local youth to play and have fun — especially in the dark winter months. Currently, he said, if you have a child between the ages of 11 and 17, there’s not much for them to do in Redmond.

“I think it’s important,” Evelyn said. “The time is now. I don’t know why it took this long to even have an athletic center, but now the time is here so let’s try to do the best we can to move this forward.”

Councilor Krisanna Clark-Endicott said the facility could bring outside dollars to Redmond.

“It’s something that can be quite lucrative in bringing people to our area,” she said.

This will be the third time a bond has been proposed to expand recreational offerings after bond measures failed in 2008 and 2019.

Gilman mentioned how the district has learned from the past. The last time a facility went up for a vote, a location had not been picked out and there were no renderings available for the public. This time, the district is more prepared and has conducted community outreach.

“This year we’re doing things different,” Gilman said.

And, members of the City Council are hoping these different tactics will pay off.

“Let’s hope the third time’s the charm,” said Mayor George Endicott.

Current plans call for keeping the Cascade Swim Center in operation if the bond and levy pass in November.