Council approves $12.4 million contract for Westside Natatorium, Olympic-size pool

After delays and a budget that has almost doubled over the last four years, the city of El Paso is ready to begin construction on the Westside pool project. Representatives approved a $12.4 million construction contract which will include city’s first Olympic-size pool.

The contract was awarded to the Arrow Building Corporation.

The 35,980-square foot facility will be built at 650 Wallenberg Drive near the existing Leo Cancellare Pool. It is funded by the 2012 Quality of Life Bonds.

It will include the following amenities:

8 long lanes (50-meter) and 24 short lanes (25 meter)
Wi-fi
Seating for approximately 780 spectators
250 parking spaces
Designed to meet USA Swimming standards and requirements
Scoreboards
Additional occupancy for up to 224 competitors through the use of moveable bleachers
Water efficiency plumbing
Movable race-starting platform allowing for a 50-meter pool to be converted to a 25-meter pool for youth competitions

Construction will begin in about a month. The pool is expected to open in early 2018.

City Manager Tommy Gonzalez said the problem began with the original budget of about $8 million being way off target.

“This particular project that was $8 million, that was never a good number with respect to the end project. The 50-meter pools that are being built across Texas and across America, they are ranging anywhere from the $14 and $18 million dollar range. Some are even higher,” Gonzalez said.

Rep. Cortney Niland agreed the original budget for the pool project was extremely underfunded.

“When we got to the deliverance of these pool and went, ‘oh my gosh, why did we think back then we could build the same pool for $8 million that we knew we could not build for $12 million on the Eastside?’ I mean I don’t know if we thought things were cheaper on the Westside, I don’t know what the thought process was but we made a mistake,” Niland said.

Despite the delays, members of the swimming community are please an Olympic-size pool is on the way. Patricia Baca has three children and all swim.

“We have struggled with the pools all the time. What is it? 12, 13 years already for my family. Struggling with the pools and going out of town, traveling and competing to try and be better,” Baca said.

According to the city manager, the difference in budgets will be made up through bond refinancing and savings.