Belmont Pool Closed

Ande, I could swear I had posted about the Belmont closure back on the 11th, but can't find my post, so I'll add to your thread here. The City had a meeting for some of the stakeholders/users groups on the afternoon of the 10th (I attended that meeting). They do have plans for a temporary pool in the parking lot are, but that will apparently take 3-6 months to accomplish (permits, foundation, utilites, ADA access, California Coastal Commission approval, etc.). They were talking about a long term solution of building 2 50-meter pools, one indoors and one outdoors. Hoever, we were all shocked when they said the indoor pool would be primarily recreational in function, and that the competition pool would be outdoors. Their design firm actually had the gall to say that the design "meets all but national and international standards." I set up a Facebook page that evening www.facebook.com/RebuildBelmontPlazaOlympicPool to discuss what the City had told us, and to request "Likes" to that page in order to show the City officials and staff just how widespread the knowledge of the pool is. City staff seems to think it is just the local recreational facility, and seem to have no appreciation of how many people from all over the world have been there to compete or watch some of the best swimmers, divers and waterpolo players in the world. While the City of Long Beach has its financial challenges, as do most municipalities these day, a large portion of the funds necessary to properly rebuild the pool complex will come from the City's Tidelands oil funds, not the City's general fund. Tidelands funds can only be spent in Tidelands area (which includes the land upon which Belmont sits). the There are major offshore oil operations in the Long Beach area, and the City receives a portion of the revenue from the oil production. With recent oil price levels, the City has a significant amount of money (exact amount unknown, but in the multi-millions) in its Tidelands Funds, and plans to use a portion of those fuinds toward a rebuilt Belmont Plaza. Several of us are working on plans to set up a mechanism for a private-public partnership to educate the City and the California Coastal Commission on the need for rebuilding Belmont as a state of the art, world-class competitive facility as it once was, rather than just another recreational pool, and to partake in fundraising efforts. To us, given that virtually all of the major competitions have been held there in the colder months from November through May, the need for the indoor pool to be the competition venue is the only thing that makes sense. And, if the new pool is properly designed, it will once again be able to host long course swimming competitions plus collegiate, national and international water polo and diving competitions. If you agree with this need, and love Belmont for its history, the people who have participated in events there, and its unique location on the beach, please support our efforts. Feel free to contact me at lucyjohnson1@gmail.com with your comments and/or questions, or post your comments and questions on this forum. Thanks everyone!

Ande, I could swear I had posted about the Belmont closure back on the 11th, but can't find my post, so I'll add to your thread here. The City had a meeting for some of the stakeholders/users groups on the afternoon of the 10th (I attended that meeting). They do have plans for a temporary pool in the parking lot are, but that will apparently take 3-6 months to accomplish (permits, foundation, utilites, ADA access, California Coastal Commission approval, etc.). They were talking about a long term solution of building 2 50-meter pools, one indoors and one outdoors. Hoever, we were all shocked when they said the indoor pool would be primarily recreational in function, and that the competition pool would be outdoors. Their design firm actually had the gall to say that the design "meets all but national and international standards." I set up a Facebook page that evening www.facebook.com/RebuildBelmontPlazaOlympicPool to discuss what the City had told us, and to request "Likes" to that page in order to show the City officials and staff just how widespread the knowledge of the pool is. City staff seems to think it is just the local recreational facility, and seem to have no appreciation of how many people from all over the world have been there to compete or watch some of the best swimmers, divers and waterpolo players in the world. While the City of Long Beach has its financial challenges, as do most municipalities these day, a large portion of the funds necessary to properly rebuild the pool complex will come from the City's Tidelands oil funds, not the City's general fund. Tidelands funds can only be spent in Tidelands area (which includes the land upon which Belmont sits). the There are major offshore oil operations in the Long Beach area, and the City receives a portion of the revenue from the oil production. With recent oil price levels, the City has a significant amount of money (exact amount unknown, but in the multi-millions) in its Tidelands Funds, and plans to use a portion of those fuinds toward a rebuilt Belmont Plaza. Several of us are working on plans to set up a mechanism for a private-public partnership to educate the City and the California Coastal Commission on the need for rebuilding Belmont as a state of the art, world-class competitive facility as it once was, rather than just another recreational pool, and to partake in fundraising efforts. To us, given that virtually all of the major competitions have been held there in the colder months from November through May, the need for the indoor pool to be the competition venue is the only thing that makes sense. And, if the new pool is properly designed, it will once again be able to host long course swimming competitions plus collegiate, national and international water polo and diving competitions. If you agree with this need, and love Belmont for its history, the people who have participated in events there, and its unique location on the beach, please support our efforts. Feel free to contact me at lucyjohnson1@gmail.com with your comments and/or questions, or post your comments and questions on this forum. Thanks everyone!