The Ames City Council is encouraging public input regarding the proposed Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center site at its next regularly scheduled meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, in City Hall Council Chambers, 515 Clark Ave. The meeting may be viewed online on the City’s website (www.CityOfAmes.org), Facebook (City of Ames) or YouTube (Ames Television) pages. Please note that there is no opportunity to participate online. Those unable to attend the meeting but who want to comment may email the Mayor and City Council at MayorCouncil@cityofames.org
Building a new indoor aquatic center has been a goal of the City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission for many years. With the closing of Ames Municipal Pool, constructing an indoor facility for recreational, instructional, and therapeutic aquatic activities is even more of a priority.
The State of Iowa provided a partial funding mechanism for a new facility through the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Ames was issued a preliminary award of $10 million in funding through the Iowa Reinvestment District Program. Through this award, any State sales tax generated from any new redevelopment in the Ames Reinvestment District over 20 years would be rebated back to the City. This money would be used to pay the debt of issuing General Obligation Bonds reducing the tax burden on Ames residents. The Ames Reinvestment District is identified as 75 acres of contiguous property including proposed new development along Lincoln Way near Downtown Ames.
Two years ago, the City identified a potential indoor aquatic center site at 122 North Oak Ave., on property currently owned by the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT). The property appraised at $2.9 million and was offered for sale. After a series of tests commissioned by the City of Ames, industrial pollutants were discovered in the northeast corner of the site. The City began considering other sites to locate the facility in close proximity to the current Reinvestment District boundaries. O’Neil Park, 300 S. Maple Ave., was identified as the most viable alternative.
Total estimated project costs as of April 2022 are just over $32 million. City Council has prepared to issue up to $21.2 million in General Obligation Bonds for this project. This funding, along with $10 million in fundraising, brings the total funding to $31.2 million.
Background on Indoor Aquatic Center sites
122 North Oak Ave.
The IDOT plans to sell this property and consolidate its offices in the main IDOT campus south of Lincoln Way. The City learned there have been a number of activities on and around this site in the past century, including several motor fuel stations and coal gasification works, which have caused soil and groundwater contamination.
The environmental evaluations conducted by the City on the site show contamination (including benzene and naphthalene) in the northeast corner of the site. Although this contamination is currently stable, it is likely to be disturbed by the construction of an indoor aquatic center and would require costly mitigation. More information about this was presented to the City Council at its July 12 meeting. View the Land Acquisition Report here: https://www.cityofames.org/home/showpublisheddocument/67276/637928949761070000
Alternative Sites within Close Proximity to the Reinvestment District
The Reinvestment District boundaries, sites reviewed, and resident feedback can be found here: https://www.cityofames.org/home/showpublisheddocument/67434/637943353897230000
Original source can be found here.
