YMCA floats idea of Roswell swimming facility

He suggested additional partners be sought, such as other cities in North Fulton or the county board of education. So far, it’s just talk.

The need for a competitive swimming venue in Roswell is borne out in every recreation survey. The parents of young swimmers wail about it when they drive miles to out-of-the-way pools for practice.

“There’s a real problem in the area finding a time to practice because the pools are so full,” said Laura Lembeck of the Centennial High swim team booster club. “There’s nothing that’s centrally located.”

The city and YMCA have discussed building a natatorium together for years. Dan Pile, senior vice president of operations for the Metro Atlanta YMCA, said a 2007 survey showed strong citizen support. Public-private partnerships have created successful YMCAs in East Lake, Alpharetta and Canton, Pile said.

Roswell would incur a one-time cost by donating land and paying for construction, he said. The YMCA would operate the facility at no cost for the city and probably waive sign-up fees for city residents.

The upside for the Roswell: the city would also get an indoor pool where local swim teams could practice and hold meets.

Though Roswell has a large, well-regarded recreation program, the city hasn’t built an indoor pool because it doesn’t want to be saddled with ongoing maintenance costs of several million dollars a year, said city council member Kent Iglehart.

“The cost to operate has always been larger than what we think we could absorb,” he said.

Pile said the survey showed citizens favored Hembree Park and Big Creek Park as the best locations for the YMCA. Pile said he liked Big Creek best because it would require less disruption of existing recreational facilities.

The lack of a pool puts local swimmers constantly on the move. The Centennial High team practices two nights at the Alpharetta YMCA, but isn’t allowed to use starting blocks there, said school athletic director Phil Thomas. The team practices two other nights at Dynamo Swim in Chamblee, 12 miles from the school. Roswell High practices at 5 a.m. at Swim Atlanta in Roswell.

One group did not support the most recent version of the YMCA idea.

The Roswell Recreation Commission, a seven-member group appointed by the mayor and council to set policy for the park system, has often discussed ways to work with the YMCA. Commission members have said they don't think the city should pay for construction of a facility.

Last Thursday the commission decided it would rather see the city build and operate its own swim center, said Debra Ewing, acting commission chairwoman.

"We just think there might be other ways to reach that goal," Ewing said.

City council member Nancy Diamond said the city should commit land to the YMCA proposal to show it’s serious about the need for a natatorium. The idea has been talked to death, she said.

“At some point somebody’s got to make the first move,” she said.