BRENHAM PARKS AND REC. BOARD DISCUSSES POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS AT AQUATIC CENTER
As the Blue Bell Aquatic Center nears its 20th birthday, Brenham city officials are looking into how the center could be improved.
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members met Wednesday to discuss how the aquatic center started, and how its second phase of improvements may have changed since the first phase was completed in 2001.
Aquatic Supervisor Tammy Jaster presented board members with a look at some of the second phase’s blueprints that were considered in 1999, containing an outdoor lazy river; a second slide in the leisure pool; additional parking, including handicap parking; and a recreation center, an additional 14,939 square foot building attached to the current building.
Public Works Director Dane Rau said, after the first phase of construction at the aquatic center, it was soon decided that the city, Brenham ISD, and the Boys and Girls of Washington County would partner and use property in the area to build facilities that are used today by the Boys and Girls Club.
Rau said this, along with funding the second phase of the aquatic center, has “redirected the thought” of what that phase may look like, in order to prevent “duplication of services” for visitors and community members.
Rau said, as the city looks at a capital improvement plan headed into 2025, the city needs to consider what it and the community want the aquatic center to be. He also said the city needs to “leave no stone unturned” in determining whether the center needs to grow substantially or make minor improvements.
Rau noted how much the competitive swim programs have grown in Brenham, and said a potential Olympic-size pool outdoors would greatly benefit them. Other parts of the second phase board members considered included handicap parking lot improvements with easier access to the therapy pool, a standalone flow rider station, and additional free-standing slides.
None of the proposed changes to the aquatic center moved beyond discussion.
Also in session, the board looked at changes to Parks and Recreation city ordinance. No changes were passed, in order to allow for more input before the board’s next meeting in August. The considered changes add language for better clarification on items such as permit regulations and fee payments.
The public will be able to provide comment on the changes before they go to city council, also in August.
Click here to view Jaster's presentation on the Blue Bell Aquatic Center.