This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Fascinated but a bit leery, Salt Lake County officials are considering a group's proposal to jointly build and operate a swimming pool on Salt Lake City's underserved northwest side.
Race Swami, a 5-year-old nonprofit that runs a swimming program primarily for youths in Glendale and Rose Park, told the County Council recently that it would raise the money to pay for an indoor competition pool adjacent to an existing pool at the Northwest Recreation Center, 1300 West and 300 North.
All the county is being asked to do, said Race Swami Board Vice President Jeffrey Appel, is provide the currently vacant land next to the rec center, design the building to its standards and, once it's done, take over operating and maintenance costs.
Several council members said the approach was intriguing. But several others were apprehensive about committing to long-term expenses without knowing more details about the project.
"Ongoing costs are my concern," said Councilman Steve DeBry, a Republican representing the southwest valley. "I'm uncomfortable voting on something I don't have specific numbers on. I'm not saying I'm against it. But I'm not going to vote today and worry about it later."
Councilwoman Aimee Winder Newton, a Republican from the west-central valley, had fewer reservations.
"This is awesome," she said. "We usually don't have groups that want to build a facility for the county. I'd love to see them work with community development staff to see the plan developed and get a better feel for what the [operational] subsidy would be."
Erin Litvack, who runs the county community services department, said her initial observations of Race Swami's concept is that it would cost the county $330,000 to $490,000 a year to operate the facility, depending on its size and configuration.
"I would love to sit down and see what the best type [of facility] would be," she said, pledging to meet soon with Appel and other members of the Race Swami board.
A Salt Lake City attorney, Appel said the club has 70 youths in its program but could serve up to 250 if more swim lanes were available.
But they're not, he said, so the team led by coach Matt Finnigan began looking at alternatives. After attending a USA Swimming seminar on building financially sustainable pools, Race Swami's board members became convinced they had the wherewithal to raise money from foundations and private sources.
"We're here now because we think we can raise the money if the county is interested," Appel said.
How much? Perhaps $7.5 million to $10.5 million, depending on the structure. Besides a competition pool, Appel said, the facility could include a hot-water pool used for therapy by seniors and people with disabilities.
Race Swami board member Rich Romano emphasized the county risks nothing upfront if it gives the nonprofit a go-ahead to pursue fundraising.
"One hundred percent of the money will be raised before we would break ground," said Romano, a former administrative assistant for Democratic Councilman Jim Bradley. "In any relationship we design with Salt Lake County, we'll share our financials and leave the county at no financial risk."
Bradley fully supports the project, observing "the worst that can happen to us is worrying about what happens with that vacant land" next to the rec center if a pool is not built.
"Our recreation master plan says we need a competition pool. We've been told [earlier that] the county doesn't have a therapeutic pool," he said, suggesting the proposal facility would fit both needs. "That's what government does. All we have to do is maintain it. I welcome taking a second look at this."
Democratic Councilwoman Jenny Wilson concurred.
"I'm so grateful that we have community partners coming to the table and saying, 'We're going to take on a big piece of this,' " she said. "They're willing to pound the pavement for [something] we value here. We subsidize recreation."
But a cautionary note was raised by Republican Councilman Richard Snelgrove, even as he wished Race Swami officials "all the success in this world."
"It's not lost on us that this is a noble cause, with a constituency that needs to be served," he said. But there's a limit to what taxpayers can underwrite and "that ongoing subsidy is real — in perpetuity."
The subsidy will be well worth it, said two community residents who had children in the Race Swami program.
Jorge Fierro argued that investing in the pool will contribute to the economic development of what he called Salt Lake City's "river district," the neighborhoods near the Jordan River.
Holding up medals won by her son in swim races, Claudia Corona added, "Our families need something like this for our kids. If you don't help us do this, nobody will."
The County Council expects a more detailed follow-up report next month from Litvack and Race Swami officials.